Scientist, community leaders honored at events

Dr. Nina Fedoroff received the Nevada Medal during recent dinners in Reno and Las Vegas. Presented by the Desert Research Institute, the medal is the highest scientific award given in our state.

The Las Vegas party took place May 2 at Aria.

Fedoroff served as science and technology adviser to Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton during their service as secretary of state.

Fedoroff is a professor of biosciences and director of the Center for Desert Agriculture at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

The Nevada Medal was established in 1988 to acknowledge achievements in science and engineering, and to bring the world’s top scientific minds to Nevada.

Dignitaries in attendance included Congresswoman Dina Titus, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, former Gov. Bob Miller and Sandy Miller, former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan and Bonnie Bryan, former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren, Councilman Bob Beers, and university Regents Kevin Page and Jack Schofield.

Other guests included Marybel Batjer, Mary and Troy Wade, Fred Gibson, Lou Emmert, Dee and Ken Ladd, Renee and Michael Yackira, Michael Saltman, Dawn Gibbons, Greg Bortolin, Mike Benjamin, John Lee, Jerry Snyder, Tom Axtell, Ashley Conroy and Justin Gardner, Theresa and Michael Minden, Russ Kost, Kari and Jonathan Halkyard and Anna Wood.

The presenting sponsor was IBM, represented by Katherine C. Holland. Other sponsors were Barrick Gold, Murren Family Foundation, Newmont Mining, Mary and Tom Gallagher and Van Scoyoc Associates.

Senoras of Excellence and Senores of Distinction: The annual awards gala took place May 4 at Wynn Las Vegas. Founded by Sandy Peltyn, it opened with a red carpet reception followed by a dinner.

Honorees were: Eloiza B. Martinez, retired vice president of Wells Fargo Bank; former District Judge Jackie Glass; Tony Gladney, vice president of national diversity relations for Caesars Entertainment; Neal Smatresk, University of Nevada, Las Vegas president; Dr Sherif W. Abdou, Health Care Partners of Nevada; Sammy Sosa, baseball legend; Antonio Leano Reyes of the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine.

The evening’s masters of ceremonies were entertainer Pia Zadora and R.J. Peltyn.

Guests included Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, College of Southern Nevada President Michael Richards, District Attorney Steve Wolfson, Nahed Sherif, Janet and Andy Blumen, Karen and Morgan Cashman, Eva Garcia Mendoza, Rod Davis, Eric Peterson, Troy Simmons, Nancy and Jack Weinstein, Annee Nounna, Kate Grey, Natasha Meinecke, Loring Jacobs, Sherry Speece, Susan and John Adamek, Carlos M. Gutierrez, Wendy Anderson, Elizabeth Hunterton and Joe Ripoll.

Proceeds benefit the Latin Chamber of Commerce and UNLV and The Puerto Rican Association scholarship funds, Nevada State College and HEART for Children with Autism.