2026 Legacy Scholarship Awardees

My name is Preston Gradillas I am a full-time student at UNLV in my second year as a transfer student, studying Criminal Justice. I first learned about triathlons from my dad where I would travel with my family to many of his races across the west coast. My Dad was a inspiration to me that one day; I would get involved in the sport and complete my very first triathlon. I began triathlons in the Fall of 2025 where I joined the UNLV triathlon club, I was a runner before this and had little to no experience in the water on proper swimming. It was so bad I couldn’t get across a 25-yard pool. But with determination to train I would complete my first triathlon in February of this year! I fell in love with the sport and my ich to compete would continue to grow each and every day. I Plan on competing in triathlon for as long as I can swim, bike and run! I want to inspire others like what my dad did for me to take up a triathlon and do something you never thought you could do!

My name is Jayden Halili, and I am a third-year student majoring in Computer Science at UNLV. When I first heard about the UNLV Triathlon Club, I was quite hesitant. It was my first time learning what a triathlon even was, and I wasn’t particularly good at any of the three disciplines, especially swimming. Now, I can safely say that joining the UNLV Triathlon Club was one of the best things I’ve done in my college career. In a matter of months, triathlon has completely transformed my physical endurance and mental resilience, an achievement that I owe to my teammates. One would be hard-pressed to find another club at UNLV with as much camaraderie as the triathlon club, and I’ve found that this extends to the triathlon community as a whole: everyone is so incredibly kind and supportive, no matter the circumstances or skill level. I am incredibly grateful that I am able to be part of such an amazing community, and I hope to keep growing as a triathlete and continue to redefine my physical and mental limits.

Paige Liberski is a senior at UNLV pursuing her Bachelor’s in Nutrition Sciences, with plans to graduate in May 2027. She came to triathlon the way many great adventures start — a random YouTube video and a “how hard could it be?” After competing in her first race on a $200 Target fixie (and spending over two hours on a 12-mile bike course), she was hooked. The bike went back the next day; a geared one came home in its place. Since then, Paige has built an impressive race history spanning sprints, relays, 70.3s, and her first full IRONMAN in 2025, with IRONMAN Wisconsin and Barcelona on the (hopeful) horizon. What keeps her going is the community — the people she meets at the start line and leans on through the hard miles. Paige joined the LV Triathlon Club in late 2022 and has made it her mission to show up: every event, every Boulder Beach swim, every potluck she can make.
After graduation, she plans to sit for the NDTR exam and eventually launch her own business serving endurance athletes — with a special focus on women and newcomers to the sport, combining her passion for fitness with her expertise in nutrition.

My name is Alejandro Rubio Toscano and I am a kinesiology student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I have always been passionate about sports since I was young, whether that be playing and joining soccer clubs, varsity volleyball in high school, and discovering my love for running in college. I challenged myself to race and train for marathons. In the midst of my training and completing five marathons, one of my professors introduced me to the world of triathlon, specifically the Triathlon Club at UNLV. The UNLV Triathlon Club helped me find people to train with, push me farther than what I thought I could do, challenged me to grow, pursue my goals, and remind me of the importance of consistency over occasional greatness. I’m incredibly humbled and grateful for the body I’ve built to be able to push through these long endurance events.