Ballard honored at 23rd annual Nevada Medal dinner
The Desert Research Institute had its 23rd annual Nevada Medal dinner and award ceremony April 22 at the Hard Rock Hotel's Muse Hall.
Robert Ballard, an explorer and historian known for his discovery of the Titanic in 1985, was honored.
Institute President Stephen G. Wells welcomed guests and elected officials including former first lady Sandy Miller, Mary Kay and Tom Gallagher, Thalia Dondero, Mary and Troy Wade, Susan and Thomas Schoeman, Marilyn Gillespie, Bill Cobb, Sandy Litton, William Horne, Joyce Woodhouse, Kevin Page, Stavros Anthony, Marilyn Dondero Loop, Helen and Harry Mortenson, James Dean Leavitt, Jack Schofield, Cedric Crear, Candy and Mike Schneider, Todd Story, Bethany Wells and Fred Maryanski, president of Nevada State College.
The Nevada Medal is awarded to a person for his or her scientific, engineering or technical achievements.
The 2010 recipient was introduced at a dinner April 20 in Reno. At the Las Vegas dinner, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, Wells and Randy Brown, representing sponsoring AT&T, awarded Ballard with the minted 8-ounce medallion of pure Nevada silver and a $20,000 prize.
Ballard remains involved with exploring the mysteries of the sea with his Jason Project, and he also lectures elementary school children to get them excited about science. He spent his day in Las Vegas speaking to the pupils at the Sandy Miller Elementary Magnet School of International Studies.
The Las Vegas dinner was emceed by Gary Waddell, news anchor at KLAS-TV, Channel 8. Charles T. Creigh Jr., co-vice chair of the Desert Research Institute Foundation, thanked AT&T for making the Nevada Medal event possible.
Other guests attending were Pam and Joe Brown, Jan and Owen Nitz, Stan Friedman, Judith and Shlomo Coneh, Patty Montgomery, Karen and Bill Goff, Felix Rappaport, Richard Schori, Candice Reed, Lonnie Hammargren, Erin Bilbray-Kohn, William Botts, Sandy Masters, Robert Lewis, Marlene Wheeler, John Gardner, Steven Weber and Bob McCaffrey.
