At a homecoming gathering of former student body leaders, graduates from decades ago mingled with the university’s most recent alums, and found the value of reconnecting with other like-minded Rebels.
“It really re-energized my feeling of how important UNLV was in my life,” says attorney John Hunt, who served in various student leadership roles before graduating in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. “As corny as it may sound, my experiences were the same as everyone else in the room. Everyone involved when I was in school, as well as all those before and after I graduated, had a dream of making UNLV a better place.”
And the idea of improving UNLV continues today. The meeting centered on the plans for the new student union and new recreation center. Student government leaders helped shore up support for the new facilities, which are being built through student fees.
“UNLV has grown considerably since my days as a student, which wasn’t too long ago,” says Gina Polovina, ’91 BA and ’94 MA Political Science. “But even now, as large as it is, you don’t feel like a number; you’re an individual, part of a family.”
Polovina, a former Student Senate president, is current director of government and community relations for Boyd Gaming. “It was interesting to hear from student leaders from the 1950s all the way through to the present. Some of the issues that affected us when I was a student are still around today, so the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
Well, almost the same. “With all the new buildings on campus, the idea of running for office as a student and having to cover that much territory is kind of daunting,” Polovina added.
As the alumni base grows and graduates become successful in the community, giving back to the university becomes essential, Hunt says.
“It’s our turn to make it happen,” he says. “I think I can speak for most in saying that our success wouldn’t be possible if not for UNLV. It’s important that we remember to feel good about being Rebels and return to campus to reignite the dream.”
Polovina agrees. “I don’t think the outside world knows the full magnitude of what’s going on here at UNLV,” she says. “There’s a great story to be told, and as graduates we are that story.”
Rediscover Your Rebel Spirit: From speaking to students as a guest lecturer and serving on college advisory boards to attending a young alum mixer or starting your own regional club, there are countless ways to reconnect with campus. Find out how you can be involved at alumni.unlv.edu.
