UNLV will observe its Winter Break Dec. 21-Jan. 1. During that time, the university will be open to the public in key service areas, while most nonessential business operations are suspended. The Division of Educational Outreach will observe the UNLV Winter Break as well. However, the information desk will be open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm Dec. 14-Jan. 5. The university and all offices will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 in observance of state holidays.

Two representatives from the Public Lands Institute will appear with John Blyth Barrymore, grandson of silent screen actor John Barrymore, at the Laughlin Library at 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 30. Barrymore will discuss the life and times of famous silent film stars, including Clara Bow, Charlie Chaplin and, of course, his grandfather. Paula Garrett, PLI program associate/research scientist, and Don Scott, Walking Box Ranch caretaker, will share stories about Rex Bell and Clara Bow's famous Walking Box Ranch and their silent films. The library is located at 2840 Needles Highway. For more information, contact 702-507-4060.
Garrett and Scott will also be guests on a local radio show prior to the Laughlin Library event.  The KAAA-KZZZ Morning Show is hosted by Gary Sheler and can be heard on KAAA AM 1230 and KZZZ AM 1490. 

 
Mark Rivero’s ties to UNLV run deep. He earned his Ed.D. here. He completed a certificate in Human Resource Management here. He has served three years on UNLV’s Adult Learner Advisory Board. His daughter is a student here.
Dr. Rivero’s latest tie? He recently made a donation to support the first-ever scholarship to support veterans pursuing professional continuing education training. During a recent chat with Rivero, he provided insight into why he chose to direct his gift to veterans pursuing continuing education.
Reason 1: The G.I. Bill doesn’t cover continuing education
As part of his role on the Adult Learner Advisory Board, Rivero helped define subgroups of adult learners in Las Vegas; veterans transitioning out of the military and into civilian careers were identified as an area of high need. The G.I. Bill is a huge resource for veteran’s pursuing a degree, but veterans cannot use their benefits for a skill-based certificate program.
Reason 2: He found great professional value in his own continuing education certificate
Even though he had a doctorate in education, as Rivero’s own career progressed, he found that he needed additional training in human resources to help him better manage and train staff. He earned a Human Resource Management certificate through UNLV. Some veterans don’t need to earn a degree to make a career transition; skill-based training helps them transfer military experience into a civilian position or to change career direction entirely. Rivero has dedicated many years to training firefighters, both in Las Vegas and working with the Nation Fire Academy’s subcommittee on accreditation.
Reason 3: He worked closely with veterans throughout his career as a firefighter.
While Rivero isn’t a veteran himself, he worked with many vets during his years at Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. Many vets choose careers in public service after separating from the military, and the scholarship donation was a way for him to show his gratitude for their commitment to their community.
Applications for veteran continuing education scholarships are available through Community2Campus. The scholarship will give preference to veterans who have chosen to complete a professional certificate program and wish to enter the work force in the Las Vegas area. Contact Dr. Liz Baldizan at elizabeth.baldizan@unlv.edu or 702-774-4626. You may also visit http://edoutreach.unlv.edu/community2campus for an application form. Applications for fall funding are due April 11.
The addition of a continuing education scholarship earmarked for veterans is yet another UNLV can thank service members and support their career development. Once again, we thank Dr. Mark Rivero for personally paving a new path to success for veterans at UNLV.
Back in the fall, UNLV was named a military friendly school for the fourth consecutive year by G.I. Jobs, a magazine for military transitioning into civilian life. The designation is based on feedback from student veterans. Military Advanced Education also selected UNLV as a top military-friendly school for 2014.

 
Downtown Las Vegas is gaining ground as a great place to live, work, and play. In light of this trend, it made great sense for Continuing Education to expand its offerings by adding more classroom space close to all the action!
The new classroom space is located on the second floor of Neonopolis at the east end of the Fremont Street Experience. Personal enrichment courses like “Neon Night Photography” and conversational Spanish will capture the vibe of our unique city. Professional development courses moving to the new classroom include public relations, human resources, and modeling. The central location of the Neonopolis classroom also makes it an appealing space for custom training.
Continuing Education continues to utilize Historic Fifth Street School for nonprofit management courses. 

The February/March 2014 enewsletter for the Division of Educational Outreach is now available online. Outreach Insights features a new continuing education scholarship for veterans, new classes offered in Downtown Las Vegas, and information for Summer Term 2014.
 

The Office of Community2Campus has moved. It is now located on the second floor of the Campus Services Building on the UNLV Main Campus. The office of Executive Director Elizabeth Baldizan, Ed.D. is in Room 206. Administrative assistant Sharon Savage is located in Room 207. The phone numbers remain the same; Baldizan may be reached at 702-774-4626, while Savage's number is 702-895-5069.

UNLV held its first Academic Achievement Gala on April 17 to honor the distinguished teaching and research of faculty members. Among the honorees was Heath Hiudt, sommelier and Continuing Education instructor, who received the Educational Outreach Faculty Excellence Award. Continuing Education Director Emmanuel (Meni) Sarris nominated Heath for the award, noting the UNLV Sommelier Academy would not exist today without the creativity and dedication of Heath as its designer and lead instructor. Heath has skillfully taught a difficult curriculum through an interactive hands-on approach and in-class experimentation to engage students in learning. Enrollment has exceeded expectations, and glowing feedback has highlighted Heath's amazing talent for teaching this highly specialized topic. Whether novice wine lovers or experienced beverage professionals, all students have made giant strides, with 100% of the first class passing the introductory program's exam. We congratulate and thank Heath for being an excellent educator and promoter of UNLV to the city and the surrounding region.

UNLV Continuing Education has nearly 100 courses available for you to explore this summer. A brochure is now available online detailing the professional development and personal enrichment courses being offered from May through July. It also includes new courses, such as Making the Transition from Manager to Leader, Refreshing Summertime Soups, and the California Philharmonic's Festival on the Green Series. Visit http://continuingeducation.unlv.edu/catalog to view the continuing education brochure.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV (OLLI at UNLV) has built its reputation on keeping members’ minds nimble through thought-provoking courses and discussions. The educational benefits of OLLI are so well known that people may be surprised to see several physical activity courses on the weekly schedule. Tai Chi, dance, and chair exercise courses have all developed a following among OLLI members.
On a recent visit to the Paradise campus, the gymnasium was flowing with energy from a class full of Tai Chi students. Instructor Joyce Asada took participants through their forms with joy, energy, and encouragement, reminding them, “We’re working both sides of your brain as well as your body.” Asada kept the focus on getting the body moving; the movements don’t have to be done perfectly in order to achieve health benefits and improve concentration.
What is the rationale for including exercise courses into OLLI? There is growing scientific evidence that regular exercise not only improves our physical well-being as we age—including cardiovascualar health, range of motion, stress reduction, and diabetes prevention—it’s also great for our brains!

The April/May 2014 enewsletter for the Division of Educational Outreach is now available online. Outreach insights features faculty excellence award winner Heath Hiudt and OLLI members who are exercising their way to better brain health. It also includes information on Summer Term 2014 and Continuing Education's summer courses.