The Golden Apple Gala
January 10, 2026 | 7 pm – 9 pm
Durango Casino & Resort
Thank you to the donors, community members, and educators who joined us at the Public Education Foundation’s Golden Apple Gala!
Our 2026 Honorees!
Dr. Tya Mathis-Coleman
CCSD Alumni of the Year
Cimarron-Memorial High School
Dr. Tya Mathis-Coleman
CCSD Alumni of the Year
Dr. Tya R. Mathis-Coleman proudly serves as the Deputy Treasurer overseeing the College Savings Division within the Nevada Treasurer’s Office. In this pivotal role, she is devoted to helping Nevadans effectively plan, save, and pay for post-secondary education. Dr. Mathis-Coleman feels honored to contribute to an organization that aligns with her values, emphasizing educational advancement and ensuring access for all.
Tya, a native of Las Vegas, Nevada, is a proud alumna of the Clark County School District and the Nevada System of Higher Education. She graduated from Cimarron Memorial High School with high honors and was among the first recipients of the Millennium Scholarship. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and subsequently completed both her Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Public Policy degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Mathis-Coleman is a dedicated public servant from Southern Nevada with a steadfast commitment to public education. As a seasoned executive, she possesses extensive practical experience and a deep understanding of leadership and program development, inclusion and diversity, talent acquisition, strategic planning, employee relations, branding, and community engagement.
She actively volunteers with the Black Community Organization Network (BCON), Les Femmes Douze debutante program, and the Junior League of Las Vegas, where she serves as the Immediate Past President. Additionally, she is a national social action commissioner for her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She currently holds positions on the Board of Directors for the Leadership Institute of Nevada (L.I.O.N.), The American Cancer Society of Las Vegas, and Teach for America (Nevada). Furthermore, she will serve as the incoming President of the UNLV Alumni Association.
Dr. Mathis-Coleman was distinguished in 2023 by the National Basketball Association at Summer League for her unwavering commitment to education. In 2022, she was honored with the University Service Award at the University of Nevada, Reno’s homecoming. Her impressive list of accolades includes being named “40 Under 40” by Vegas Inc. in 2017, Farwest Soror of the Year in 2019 by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and numerous other awards recognizing
her dedication to public service. One of her most fulfilling roles is serving as a part-time instructor in the Lee School of Business at UNLV, where she finds immense joy in mentoring and engaging with her undergraduate students each semester.
In her free time, Mathis-Coleman cherishes moments spent with family and friends. As the eldest daughter of Raymond and Dr. Beverly Mathis, she values the close-knit bonds they share. Tya is married to Dr. Sebern Coleman Jr. and is the proud mother of her seven-year-old daughter, Hunter Grace, who is the absolute love of her life.
Kenneth Lin and Siriwan Singhasiri
CCSD Alumni of the Year
Eldorado High School
Kenneth Lin and Siriwan Singhasiri
CCSD Alumni of the Year
Kenneth Lin and Siriwan Singhasiri first met as students at Eldorado High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where their shared drive and curiosity forged a lifelong partnership. After graduating from Boston University, they began building both their family and their professional journeys—rooted in values of hard work, education, and community.
Kenneth (Ken) is best known as the founder of Credit Karma, a company dedicated to helping millions of people take control of their financial lives. Siriwan (Serrie) has been his steadfast partner through every chapter, balancing family, philanthropy, and shared passions for travel and personal growth.
Together, they’re the proud parents of Brandon and Stella, and continue to split their time between family adventures, community engagement, and initiatives that promote opportunity and upward mobility for future generations.
Don Snyder
Golden Apple Honoree
Don Snyder
Golden Apple Honoree
Donald Snyder has deep ties to Southern Nevada. An executive with senior leadership experience in both the commercial banking and gaming industries, Snyder also served as Dean of UNLV’s Harrah College of Hospitality and President of UNLV.
Snyder was born in South Dakota and grew up in humble surroundings, first in South Dakota and then Wyoming.
Following his graduation from the University of Wyoming in 1969, Snyder began a successful banking career, continuing involvement with the industry today. During 22 years with First Interstate Bank (now Wells Fargo), he rose from a management trainee in California to serve as Chairman of the Board & CEO of First Interstate Bank of Nevada from 1987 to 1991. He held leadership positions in retail and corporate banking, international banking, real estate banking, and served on the Board of Directors of several First Interstate subsidiaries during his later years with First Interstate.
Subsequent to leaving First Interstate Bank, Snyder co-founded Bank of Nevada (originally called BankWest of Nevada). From its initial $8 million in assets, the Bank has grown into a multi-state banking organization, with the parent holding company, Western Alliance Bancorporation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with assets now of more than $90 billion. While never serving in a management capacity, he continues as an active member of the Board of Directors for Western Alliance Bancorporation. Snyder’s move to the gaming industry started in 1992 when asked by downtown Las Vegas casino owners to lead the efforts to develop what became the Fremont Street Experience. He served as Chairman, President & CEO until July 1996, and continued as non-executive Chairman of the Board until 2006.
Following the successful opening and initial operation of the Fremont Street Experience, Snyder joined Boyd Gaming Corporation in 1996. He became a member of Boyd Gaming’s Board of Directors in April 1996, Executive Vice President three months later, and President in January 1997 – a position he held until his retirement in 2005.
His retirement from Boyd Gaming was planned to coincide with efforts to move forward with the funding and development of what became The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Having been involved in the earliest efforts (starting in 1994) to develop a world class performing arts center, Snyder became Chairman of the Board in 1999, a position he held until 2024. While always serving in a non-paid capacity, he effectively teamed with Myron Martin (who become President & CEO during construction) to provide the leadership that made The Smith Center a reality.
Years before becoming an administrator at UNLV, Snyder had a long history of active volunteer engagement with the university. He became a member of the Board of Trustees for the UNLV Foundation in 1988, served five years as Chairman of its Board, and served as Chairman of the first and only comprehensive capital campaign which concluded in 2009.
For his work supporting UNLV, Snyder was awarded the President’s Medal in 2000, an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree in 2001, and was named (by the NSHE Board of Regents) a Distinguished Nevadan in 2003. The UNLV Lee Business School also inducted him into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame in 2011 for his leadership. In recognition of their significant philanthropic gifts to UNLV, Snyder and his wife Dee were inducted into UNLV’s Palladium Society in 2009. The Clark County School District also recognized the couple’s ongoing contributions to advance education when it opened the Don and Dee Snyder Elementary School in January 2018.
Snyder has been actively involved in numerous other businesses, charitable and civic activities in Nevada over his more than 38 years in Nevada. In addition to his long and active service on the board of Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL), he has served on the Boards of six other publicly traded companies and numerous private companies. Additionally, Snyder has served on numerous non-profit boards over his time in Nevada. He presently serves The Smith Center (Immediate Past Chairman), United Way of Southern Nevada (current and past Chairman) and The Public Education Foundation (which awarded him with the Lifetime Education Achievement award in 2018). His past board service includes the UNLV Foundation (past Chairman), the UNLV Research Foundation, the Nathan Adelson Hospice (past Chairman), the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Nevada Resort Association, American Gaming Association, Nevada Development Authority (past Chairman), Council for a Better Nevada (past Chairman), the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities (past Chairman), the Regional Transportation Commission Advisory Committee (past Chairman), and Tournament Players Club at Summerlin. He has also served on several legislative commissions, including Chairing the Governor’s Commission on Medical Education, Research and Training in 2006. For his service to the community and philanthropy, Snyder was named 2013 Philanthropist of the Year by Governor Brian Sandoval and, along with his wife Dee, 2023 Outstanding Philanthropists by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Snyder is a cum laude graduate of the University of Wyoming (1969), with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, where he was recognized in 2025 as Distinguished Alumnus. Snyder and his wife, Dee, have been married for 54 years, and have three children and four grandchildren. Don has also published an autobiography, “Taking the Lead”, with co-author Jack Sheehan.
Thank You to our 2026 Sponsors
