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Henderson, Nev. Nevada State College will use funding it received from a Desert Research Institute grant to augment two three-week archaeological field school sessions June 16-July 4 and July 7-25 for remote sensing to aid in the search of prehistoric Anasazi agricultural fields and seasonal dwellings in northwestern Arizona.
DRI received a $281,879 grant over three years from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use remote sensing to estimate soil, vegetational and geomorphical characteristics to determine the potential of landscape features to sustain productive prehistoric maize agriculture in the Mount Trumbull region of northwest Arizona, an arid region of the Colorado Plateau. Previous research shows a high density of prehistoric Anasazi habitation sites.
This year we will be conducting archaeological survey and site recording; the session includes instruction in basic laboratory procedures and analyses of artifacts collected in previous years as well, said Paul Buck, who is a member of the faculties at both NSC and DRI. We will record archaeological sites near Uinkaret Pueblo at the foot of Mount Trumbull. A number of C-shaped pueblos and field house are known but not formally recorded, and it is likely many other sites will be found and recorded.
During each of the past five summers, the archaeology field school at NSC has accepted 8-16 students. This year, applications will still be accepted through June 20 for the session beginning July 7. Students will earn four college credits for completing this unique coursework. Participants come from a variety of academic disciplines, including everything from environmental science to education. There is also an opportunity for up to three NSC students to work as assistants at the site, gaining experience with technical archaeological skills like excavating and surveying.
Our model will provide some predictive capability in the region for prioritizing subsequent survey intensity, Buck said. The research proposed here may also allow planners of the new Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (where the Mount Trumbull study area is located) to avoid particularly sensitive areas when designing recreation and other facilities for the national monument.
Other DRI faculty involved in obtaining the NASA grant were Don Sabol and Dave Rhode.
Nevada State College opened its doors to students in September 2002 after the Board of Regents and the Nevada State Legislature determined the need for enhanced educational opportunities in Southern Nevada in 1997. The college currently enrolls 1,950 students.
NSC’s main campus is located on more than 500 acres in the foothills of Henderson and provides progressive bachelor’s programs in several in-demand fields of study. Nevada State College offers a low student-to-professor ratio and competitive tuition rates.
For more information on Nevada State College, call : 702.990.2000 or visit : nsc.edu.

by Rebecca Zisch
A jubilant crowd gathered at the Henderson Pavilion on Saturday, May 10 to witness the commencement ceremony for Nevada State College’s fifth graduating class. The landmark occasion was complemented by beautiful weather and the collective pride and exhilaration for the accomplishments that such a ceremony represents. Scores of smiling, regalia-clad graduates processed and accepted their degrees from President Fred Maryanski and Provost Lesley DiMare.
In 2004, Nevada State College’s first commencement included thirteen students. Only four years later, the Class of 2008 is over thirteen times larger, totaling more than 170 students. The graduates were cheered on by a multitude family, friends and faculty, the largest attendance NSC has ever seen for its annual commencement.
After the formal procession of robed faculty and graduating students, Dr. Fred Maryanski welcomed everyone and introduced the distinguished guests that joined him on the stage.
NSHE Regent Mark Alden expressed his congratulations on this great milestone of success and told the graduates that their presence was a clear reflection of dedication and persistence in their education.
Ryan Crowell, President of the Nevada State Student Alliance, complimented the entire Class of 2008 by saying you embody exceptional qualities and you lead through your actions and inspire me and others every day.
Karen Maccanello, a 2008 graduate in Elementary Education, was honored as this year’s Valedictorian. In her address, she commended her fellow graduates by exclaiming, we reached our destination. Speaking as an Education major she also thanked the teachers who went the extra mile and served as role models and set high standards for us as future teachers
Of the graduates who participated in the commencement ceremony, 44 percent represented the Nevada State College School of Education, 29 percent were from the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and 27 percent were from the School of Nursing.
The day before, on Friday, May 9, 25 of the graduates of the School of Nursing participated in a traditional Pinning Ceremony at the Dragon Ridge Country Club. Each student processed to the stage and was pinned by one or more loved ones. Parents, spouses and children of the graduates participated in the ceremony. Several participating family members were nurses themselves, so the ceremony also acts as a passing of the professional torch. The pin presented to each graduate was designed by a previous graduate of the Nevada State College School of Nursing.
Other awards presented at Saturday’s commencement ceremony included honorary degrees. Both Dr. Christine Chairsell and Dr. Patricia K. Miltenberger were given honorary Master of Arts degrees in recognition of their service to the Nevada System of Higher Education and particularly their roles as Acting Presidents of Nevada State College during NSC’s early history.
The President’s Medal, a new addition to NSC Commencement last year, was awarded to two individuals Selma Bartlett and Richard Perkins. It is an honor conferred on individuals who have proven extraordinary commitment to the mission of Nevada State College. Bartlett has played a central role in the development of the College for over a decade and currently serves as the Treasurer of the Foundation Board of Trustees. Perkins, currently the Henderson Chief of Police, worked diligently to gain support for Nevada State College during his seven terms in the Nevada Assembly.
The final award of the evening, The Regents Scholar Award, was presented by Regent James Dean Leavitt to Christine Pesquiera, a graduate of the NSC School of Education. This award is bestowed upon one undergraduate from each institution within the Nevada System of Higher Education to recognize his or her academic achievements, leadership ability and service contributions. The award totals $5,000, funded by NSHE.
After the awards had been presented, all attending graduates received their degrees amidst roaring applause, flashing cameras and even deafening air horns. The final recession was accompanied by the Nevada State College Brass.
With the addition of the Class of 2008, Nevada State College’s alumni base, in just five short years, is now close to 600 graduates, the vast majority of which work in and actively contribute to Southern Nevada’s growing economy.
To view photos taken during Commencement please go to the Commencement Gallery.
For more information on Nevada State College, call : 702.990.2000 or visit : nsc.edu.

Henderson, Nev. Teachers for the deaf and hard of hearing are a proven resource when it comes to helping students who have hearing impairments. There are currently 400 students in the Clark County School District who require deaf and hard of hearing services, and with four to six teacher vacancies to be filled in fall 2008, it doesn’t look like the need for teachers in this area is going to ease up any time soon. That’s where Nevada State College is stepping in with an alternative.
Beginning in fall 2008, Nevada State College is offering Nevada’s first bachelor’s degree for educators who want to specialize in teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
All of Nevada’s children deserve an equal chance at an education, but it can be difficult for a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, said Francine Mayfield, dean of Nevada State College’s School of Education. This program will provide the training required for our students to become specialists in teaching those children.
And the demand is there. As Nevada’s population continues to grow, those needs will only become greater.
This is an expanding field and one that is severely under-served, not just in Nevada, but countrywide, said Mayfield. But with this program, we will be able to tackle this issue head-on while providing our students with the training needed to become a specialized, in-demand professional.
Students enrolling in the four-year Bachelor of Science in Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing program will have to complete the college’s general credit requirements in addition to special deaf education courses. The curriculum includes courses in communication methods, language and literacy development, instructional methods for self-contained and inclusive settings, transition, and assessment.
Nevada State College opened its doors to students in September 2002 after the Board of Regents and the Nevada State Legislature determined the need for enhanced educational opportunities in Southern Nevada in 1997. The college currently enrolls 1,950 students.
NSC’s main campus is located on more than 500 acres in the foothills of Henderson and provides progressive bachelor’s programs in several in-demand fields of study. Nevada State College offers a low student-to-professor ratio and competitive tuition rates.
For more information on Nevada State College, call : 702.990.2000 or visit : nsc.edu.