Alumnus scholarship helps hotel administration students
by Brandi Segura

UNLV alumnus Salvatore “Sal” Semola,’81, recognizes the growing importance of having a degree in hotel administration. After all, he credits his degree from UNLV for much of the success he has had in the industry during the past 30 years. Semola started out as a busboy and has risen through the ranks to become the vice president and general manager of the Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin.

To help a new generation of students like him, he created the Salvatore P. Semola Scholarship Endowment Fund. Awards are based on financial need and qualified students must be enrolled in the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration.

Jason Vigil and Janeen Nanbu were the first two recipients of the scholarship. Both of them are extremely grateful to Semola for his generosity.

“This scholarship allows me to focus more on my education than worrying how I’m going to pay for tuition,” Vigil says. “I’ll never forget those like Sal who helped me accomplish my goals and dreams.”

Nanbu echoed his sentiments and added that she now has extra spending money to eat something other than dorm food.

“Having been the recipient of a small grant as an undergraduate, and to remember how grateful I was to receive it, I just wanted to be able to help someone else reach their goals. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to give something back,” Semola says. “I encourage all alumni to do whatever they can to support the college.”