Benefactor helps UNLV students who fall through cracks

When Las Vegas gaming executive and real estate developer Philip Cohen died a year ago, he did something unusual for a man who'd never graduated college: He left millions of dollars to UNLV.

"He wanted to make a difference and help students who were deserving," said Craig Miller, a longtime friend who is helping manage Cohen's estate.

No one is sure how much Cohen's gift to the university will ultimately be. For now, it is near $7 million. More will come later, as other heirs pass on.

It could eventually measure into the tens of millions of dollars.

The primary purpose of the money will be to support scholarships for students who otherwise might fall through the cracks.

Bill Boldt, UNLV's vice president for advancement, said students with very high grades often qualify for academic scholarships. Students who are very low-income qualify for financially based scholarships.

But students whose grades are good but not great, and who make a bit too much money to qualify as poor, often can't get any scholarships.

The Cohen gift will help fix that.

"It hits that high-need area," he said.

Student Hollie Taylor was notified earlier this month that she'll be the first recipient.

She is 33 years old, a single mom who works two jobs to make ends meet. She is studying journalism, and said she wants to write books one day, something that will help people.

Eight years ago, Taylor saw a story on the news about a single mother, Jessica Korschinowski, who was shot and killed by a stray bullet that had been fired outside her apartment, where she was with her kids.

Taylor was so moved by the story, she started a charity, Jessica's Children Foundation, to help the children of slain parents.

But, recently, she began to feel like she should do more with her life. She applied to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was denied, appealed, and eventually was admitted.

But paying for it has been a burden. It can cost more than $5,000 a year to attend the university full time, and the costs are rising.

The scholarships will cover all of a student's tuition for up to 40 students a year.

Though Cohen was not a college graduate, he did take some business courses at UNLV, Miller said.

Raised during the Great Depression, Cohen moved to Las Vegas in 1948, worked opening night at the Flamingo, the first major resort on the then-new Las Vegas Strip, moved on to the Riviera, and eventually developed shopping centers on the west end of town.

Miller said his friend wanted to "inspire people who grew up in difficult circumstances to excel."

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.