University presents hospitality awards to professionals

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Hotel Administration honored five men for their contributions to the hospitality industry at its third annual Vallen Dinner of Distinction May 3 at The Mirage.

Scott Sibella, president and chief executive officer of The Mirage, was named Alumnus of the Year.

Named industry executives of the year were Peter C. Bernhard, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission; Guy R. Fieri, host of "Guy's Big Bite" on the Food Network; and David Saxe, CEO and owner of David Saxe Productions and the V Theater.

Joseph R. Kane Jr., president of the Wyndham Hotel Group and president and CEO of Days Inns Worldwide, was awarded the dean's Medal of Distinction.

Master of ceremonies was Donald D. Snyder, retired president of the Boyd Gaming Corp.

In other community news,

* The annual recognition luncheon for recipients of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service took place at The Palm restaurant in the Forum Shops at Caesars in April. The awards were sponsored by KTNV-TV, Channel 13, and Wells Fargo.

The Jefferson Awards, started in 1972 through the American Institute for Public Service, honors individuals for their achievements, dedication and contributions in community and public service.

The 12 honorees include Daniel Skinkis, Lisa Holleman, Philip John O'Leary, Tom Conlin, Martin Dean Dupalo, Thomas Washington, Maurice Lee, Kimberly Nellis, JoAnn McEvers, Lorraine Stegemann, Alfred Howard and Anne Keating.

* Sukyung Dennis and Mary Suzann Schmidt, both students of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts -- Las Vegas, were recently named Chef4Students Scholarship recipients.

Dennis and Schmidt will each receive $1,000. There were 12 scholarships awarded from a pool of more than 600 applicants.

Chef4Students, an international nonprofit organization, was founded by chefs committed to giving back to the culinary industry.

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts -- Las Vegas is an affiliate school of Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America.

* Howard Lieburn Senior Center had its inaugural Lieburn Digital Photo Contest in March. The contest was open to residents age 50 and older. The winners are: Cynthia Smith (landscape/nature); Dodie Amundson (black and white); Shun Chung Wu (portrait/people); Carole Goldstein (special effect/photoshop); and Irwin Goldstein (travel/architecture).

If you know of a worthy candidate for this column, mail information to Newsmakers, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070, or send faxes to 383-4676.