Library District Foundation Honors Tom & Bonnie Lawyer Scholarship

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation is honoring longtime board member Tom Lawyer, who is retiring after 18 years of service. Tom and his wife Bonnie established a scholarship program to help young people who attend our West Las Vegas Library branch to achieve their dream of a college education.

Over the years, the Lawyers have given 73 scholarship awards to 45 local students, for a total amount of $88,000. Juan Gonzalez Madera is one recipient, who represents the many fortunate students that were able to reach for the stars.

“As a first-generation college student and immigrant, the Tom and Bonnie Lawyer Scholarship Program gave me the opportunity to pursue my version of the American Dream,” said Madera. “Growing up in the Historic West Las Vegas neighborhood, I knew I wanted to stay and serve my community in the most meaningful ways. Thanks to Tom & Bonnie’s generosity in creating this scholarship, I graduated from UNLV with a bachelor’s degree in public administration.”

“Tom and Bonnie have inspired me to always look for ways to serve others,” added Madera. “I currently work as an adult rights specialist for the State of Nevada, where I provide assistance and advocacy for our community’s vulnerable seniors and those living with disabilities. I’m proud to share that their encouragement over the years has inspired me to go on to pursue my Master of Public Administration degree from UNLV. With my MPA degree, I will access greater opportunities to elevate and enrich my service to the vulnerable and underserved in our community.”

Madera is just one example of a life that was changed and uplifted through access to education through the Tom & Bonnie Lawyer Scholarship Program, which sunset in 2020. The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation extends a sincere thank you to Tom and Bonnie. For information about current college scholarship opportunities, please visit thepef.org/scholarships/