Endowments

More than $30 million in transformational gifts from William S. “Bill” Boyd and the Boyd Family solidified the law school’s founding. Their continued involvement and investment have ensured long-term success. One of the best-known figures in the gaming industry, Bill Boyd is Chairman Emeritus and co-founder of Boyd Gaming Corporation. In his oral history, Mr. Boyd attributes the founding of law school to be his greatest life achievement. 

Adrian Karimi immigrated to the United States with his mother when he was five years old and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He pursued his undergraduate studies at UCLA, earning a Bachelor’s degree in History with a cum laude designation. Adrian then relocated to Las Vegas to attend the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV graduating in 2014. Throughout his experiences in the courts and private practice, Adrian discovered his passion for representing individuals and found never-ending inspiration for stories about personal struggles, achievements, and paths to redemption. He established this endowed fund to help future generations of first-generation students studying to be attorneys.

The dedicated alumni of the William S. Boyd School of Law established this endowment through crowdfunding efforts to help the next generation of law students on their journey. 

Southwest Gas Corporation, a steadfast supporter of UNLV since 1986, established this endowment in 2002 in honor of its Executive Vice President and General Counsel. The corporation's enduring commitment to UNLV and its students is evident in its Palladium membership and support across various areas. 

Barbara was a member of the Boyd School of Law Class of 2002 and served as UNLV’s Director of Academic Relations until her passing in 2007. Her husband, Willard Rollings, was a Professor of History at UNLV from 1989-2008. The scholarship was established as a tribute to Barbara’s service and commitment to law students. 

Established in 2004 by Mark and Patricia Yoseloff, this fund supports professorships or scholarships for outstanding students and faculty and fosters excellence in higher education opportunities. 

Born in 1912, Cliff Jones worked on the Hoover Dam and later pursued his dream of becoming an attorney at the University of Missouri. He served as Judge for the 8th Judicial District Court of Nevada, Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, and was a World War II Lieutenant Colonel. Jones also co-founded the Bank of Las Vegas, which became the Valley Bank of Nevada. In his honor, his widow established this merit-based scholarship for full-time students.

In 2001, the Lee family established the first endowed professorship in law at the Boyd School of Law. This Endowment has helped to support and strengthen the law school by attracting and retaining top legal scholars and providing essential resources for faculty development and academic excellence. The Lee Family’s generosity has greatly enhanced the university's educational environment, and his legacy continues to influence UNLV’s growth and success.

Emilie Wanderer was among the first women to pass the Nevada Bar exam. This endowment reflects her commitment to enhancing opportunities for students and fostering community growth. Wanderer’s legacy continues to impact the lives of many through her generous contributions and support for meaningful causes. 

Frank Durand was a distinguished legal scholar and a former Associate Dean of the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV. Upon his retirement, generous donations from the Durand family, students, and colleagues established the Dean Frank Durand Scholarship to honor his legacy. The scholarship reflects Durand's dedication to nurturing the next generation of legal professionals.

This fund was established by a generous gift from John Lambrose and Laura Fitzsimmons in 2010 to support students who have an interest in public service. The scholarship pays tribute to public defense attorneys who have made significant contributions to our community.

Established by Fred D. Gibson Jr and Elizabeth Ann Gibson, as well as generous donations in memory of “Pete” Gibson, this scholarship honors the legacy of Fred Gibson III. An exemplary attorney and dedicated U.S. Army Captain in the Judge Advocate General Corps, Fred Gibson III’s commitment to service and excellence is commemorated through this scholarship.

“Gordy” was an exemplary attorney, dedicated Rebel fan, and respected professor. He and his wife Charlotte were civic-minded philanthropists, and this endowment was established from a generous bequest from the Charlotte Fink estate. 

Howard Babcock was the U.S. Attorney for Nevada from 1958-1961. This endowment was established by a generous gift from the Leontyna Babcock Trust. 

Established through generous donations from the 25th anniversary fundraising campaign to honor the remarkable community contributions and enduring legacy of Judge Pro. Judge Philip M. Pro served as a United States District Judge for over 27 years, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada, Deputy Attorney General for the Nevada Gaming Division, and a civil litigator. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of a law school in Nevada and has generously devoted his time and expertise to mentoring students for over three decades.

Special appreciation to the family of alumna Janine Lee, who honors her memory with a generous gift to fund this scholarship endowment opportunity. This scholarship is open to Boyd Law students in good academic standing, as defined by the William S. Boyd School of Law, with a preference for students who graduated from a Nevada or Pennsylvania High School, or are single parents, or non-traditional students returning to school after a break. The scholarship amount varies from year to year based on the market. 

Established by a generous seed gift from Will T. and Brianne M. Sykes, this fund supports educational opportunities for students from underrepresented communities to learn more about the benefits of legal education. The Honorable Michael L. Douglas was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nevada in March 2004, and thereafter elected three times. He served as Chief Justice in 2011 and 2018. Justice Douglas is the first African-American Justice in Nevada's history. This fund provides programmatic support for pre-law students to build their writing and critical thinking skills, expose them to the legal professional network, and prepare them for the law school admissions process.

Jerry and Joyce Mack moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles in 1949 with their young family. Jerry Mack, founder of the Bank of Las Vegas and the longtime vice chairman of what was then Valley Bank, helped finance many of the early Strip casinos. Since her husband’s death in 1998, Joyce Mack has continued the family’s philanthropic efforts in Southern Nevada. Their gifts have been instrumental in developing UNLV and the Boyd School of Law. This gift was made possible by a generous gift from the Thomas and Mack Company 

Established in 2004, by a generous gift from the Lehmans. Judge Jack Lehman established the first drug court in Nevada in 1992. Lehman changed thousands of lives, helping people find lasting treatment for their addiction.

Established in 2005 by a generous gift from J. Tito Tiberti, it is named in honor of his long-time friend and attorney, K. Michael Leavitt. Tito Tiberti, a native Las Vegan, was president of the J.A. Tiberti Construction Company Inc. from 1981-2009. He was a founding partner of the Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino which merged to form Coast Resorts Corp. His company went on to build the Orleans Hotel & Casino, the Suncoast, and South Point Hotel. During that time, Tito served as Treasurer, Secretary, and Board Member of Coast Resorts Corp., until their merger with Boyd Gaming. Tito graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Finance & Real Estate.

Dr. Ita graduated from the William S. Boyd School of Law in 2012. He was the oldest student in his class, entering law school at 71. Born in Nigeria, he earned a doctorate from the University of Michigan and was an engineering professor at UNLV. He left a generous estate gift to fund a scholarship endowment to help future generations of law students. 

Born in Russia in 1898, Leo Gibrich immigrated to the United States via Ellis Island. Growing up in Chicago, he was an entrepreneur in the auto parts business. He moved to Las Vegas in 1970. His generous estate gift demonstrates his belief in the benefits of education. 

This fund was established in 2000 by Noel and Ivy Gage, attorneys in Las Vegas, to support law school scholarships. 

Established in 2004 by the Joy McCann Foundation in honor of Ralph Denton, a Nevada lawyer and dedicated public servant. He believed in the importance of helping the community through educational opportunities and mentorship.

Established by a $1 million gift from Samuel and Lexy Lionel, this endowment recognizes the exceptional contributions of former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and attorney Sam Lionel to the Nevada legal community and facilitates the education of the next generation of Nevada lawyers.

Established by a generous gift from William S. Boyd and the Boyd Foundation in honor of Dean Richard Morgan. He was the founding dean of the William S. Boyd School of Law, a position he held from 1997 through 2007. His highly distinguished career in legal education spanned 27 years and included service as dean of the colleges of law at the University of Wyoming and Arizona State University, as well as Interim Dean of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, College of Business. After his retirement, he served on numerous committees and task groups in the legal community and academia.

Established by a gift from the MGM/Mirage in 2007, this endowment is named in honor of Robert Faiss, a shareholder in the Nevada law firm of Lionel Sawyer Collins. Considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on gaming law, Mr. Faiss was named the premier gaming attorney in the U.S. and one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers by the National Law Journal. A well-known humanitarian with a long history of public service, Mr. Faiss also served as an adjunct professor in gaming law and policy with the William S. Boyd School of Law. 

Funded by a generous donation from Samuel and Lexy Lionel, the Externship Program recognizes Mr. Lionel’s enormous and lasting contributions to the Las Vegas legal community while supporting our students as they gain practical experience with attorneys and judges throughout Nevada and the country.

Samuel S. Lionel had a long history of supporting Nevada’s legal community and mentoring new attorneys. He was an early proponent of a law school in Nevada and was a major supporter of the William S. Boyd School of Law since its founding. With a generous gift from his estate, his wife, Lexy Lionel, created an endowed professorship to retain top legal faculty. The Lionels have supported many Boyd programs and have been dedicated to its future success.

This fund, funded by a generous gift from Stephen J. Cloobeck, recognizes the enduring impact of the late Senator Harry Reid. Senator Reid was born in Searchlight, Nevada, and attended Basic High School in Henderson, NV, where he was active in football and boxing. He attended Utah State University for his undergraduate degree and George Washington University for his juris doctorate. He served as a U.S. senator from Nevada from 1987-2017. Recipients of this scholarship are known as the Cloobeck-Reid Scholars.

Clinical legal education is a teaching method where students learn substantive law and practice in the context of real cases. This generous endowment provides opportunities for students to learn and develop their skills under the guidance of attorneys in the context of real cases. 

Thomas Plein graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Psychology. His family owned 7-Up bottling plants in Oshkosh and other Midwest cities. In the 1980s, Thomas founded the Thomas A. Plein Foundation to give back to the community. 

Long-term donors to the law school, Tom and Leslie Thomas, gave a transformational gift to establish a Small Business Initiatives Clinic within the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic. Funding will allow students to learn and practice advocating for local small businesses within this clinic.  

Alberta received an undergraduate degree from UNLV in 1965 and was the UNLV Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumna of the Year in 1987. The Sterns were advocates of education and supporters of UNLV, believing that education is our greatest natural resource. This was established as an endowment in 2000.