Two inspiring affinity celebrations took place Friday evening at the CSN’s North Las Vegas Campus, each highlighting the resilience, culture, and accomplishments of CSN graduates.

The Latino Alliance Celebration welcomed its largest group of graduating students to date. Graduates took the stage one by one to receive their cultural stoles, placed with pride by family members. The event featured keynote speaker Astrid Silva, Executive Director of Dream Big Nevada, who shared her personal journey from undocumented student to leader of a nonprofit serving immigrant families across the state. Staff members were also honored for their contributions to the Latino Alliance, and a representative from Congressman Steven Horsford’s office joined in recognizing the evening’s significance.

Right next door, the Women’s and Native American Alliance Celebration recognized the achievements of CSN women and Indigenous students. Evelyn Pacheco, founder of Nevada Women in Trades and a pioneer in the plumbing industry, spoke about overcoming challenges and opening doors for others in underrepresented communities.

Together, the two events reflected the diversity of the CSN community and celebrated the determination of students who have reached an important milestone in their academic journey.