Walking backwards: It’s a specific and unique skill set developed by a small, but mighty group whose mission is to convince prospective students that UNLV Engineering is the place to be. “It's hilarious when we hit something — I promise you, I laugh too,” said Taylor Gauthier, lead Engineering Student Ambassador (ESA), as she toured a small group of soon-to-be UNLV students through the Advanced Engineering Building. “But please let me know if we’re going to hit something, especially stairs. That's a step too far in my opinion.” Gauthier’s opening instruction as she began the Friday afternoon spotlight tour was also paired with another request: Ask questions. “Derail us,” she said. “Let’s go on a completely different tangent. It's so much more fun that way. This is your tour.” The ESA program and their student-led tours are a signature part of the College of Engineering’s recruitment effort. The program is also one of the contributing factors in the college achieving its highest enrollment milestone ever — 700 first-year students entered the college in fall 2025. “What makes the ESAs so successful is their ability and pride in showing students what they’re doing in the labs, in the classrooms, and showing them around the institution,” said Barb Roberts, acting senior vice provost for Academic Affairs and associate vice president for Enrollment Management. “They’re showing prospective students what it's like for them to be here on campus.” Unlike traditional recruiting which usually involves a professional employee attending a college fair and giving a structured presentation to catch as many students as possible into the “net,” Roberts says the ambassadors are experts at “spear fishing.” “They're the ones who can go in with a very finely tuned spear, and they’re going to hit at exactly the thing that that one particular student needs