2021 Recipient

Growing up in a family of artists, sociology was not a word in my vocabulary. I am indebted to one of my mentors, Dr. Bo Bernhard, for rousing my sociological imagination. Sociology challenges my taken-for-granted assumptions. With its focus on group life, it informs my pedagogy. Sociology provides the tools I need to serve marginalized students during the Young Executive Scholars Hospitality and Tourism Program and Battle Born Girls Innovate—two youth programs I founded at UNLV. 

In fall 2015, I began my sociological journey at the UNLV International Gaming Institute (UNLV IGI). I started as a graduate assistant, working on initiatives to champion women in gaming. Women’s advocacy was not an unfamiliar subject for me. I began my career at the American Gaming Association, where I managed Global Gaming Women, an organization that develops and empowers women in gaming.

I was humbled by the support my mentors at UNLV IGI provided me, but as a first-generation student without family or outside financial support, the assistantship was not enough. To supplement, I worked other part-time gigs that year, including assisting Mr. Mark Lipparelli. 

Mark talked about his family often. He was so proud of Ryan. Much to my disappointment, I never had the chance to meet Ryan. I could tell from his father’s words that, like Mark, he had a big heart. Ryan lifted those around him and could always bring a smile to someone’s face. 

I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociology at Washington State University. My advocacy comes through my research, which focuses on gaming’s gender leadership gap and the sexual harassment of women in gaming. As a first-gen student, my graduate education has helped me transcend my difficult, low-income upbringing. 

I am extremely grateful for the Ryan Lipparelli Education Trust scholarship and the benefactors who make it possible. The scholarship greatly eases my financial burden and allows me to focus on my graduate education, research, and advocacy efforts. Beyond this, I deeply admire Carmen, Mark, Gracie, and the whole Lipparelli family for creating such a beautiful legacy for Ryan. The foundation’s support embodies Ryan's compassion and kindness for his family and his family for him. He is smiling down. 

It is an honor to carry on Ryan’s dedication to education, enthusiasm for community service, and appetite for learning. Like Ryan, I aspire to leave the world a little better than I came into it. As a professor, researcher, activist, and gaming leader, I will carry on Ryan’s passion. 

Shekinah