Brenda Ortiz

Commuter Student Finds Belonging at UC Merced

March 31, 2026

Most weekdays, civil engineering major Jacqueline Garcia travels 45 minutes each way from her hometown of Hughson to attend classes at UC Merced. “The perk is being able to pursue my undergraduate degree while still having a tie to home. It's been great having the campus here in the...

Future Public Servants Get a Boost From UC Fellowships

UC Merced student Stephanie Maldonado was excited when she earned a slot in the University of California’s public service internship program in Washington, D.C., this fall — then came the financial...

Run Raises $2,500 for Scholarship Funds

More than 300 participants, including students, alumni, faculty and staff members and friends of the campus, gathered for the second annual UC Merced Journey 5K Fund Run earlier this month. First-...

Rising Student Demand Drives UC Merced Enrollment Growth

The University of California, Merced, enters its 12th academic year with a record-breaking incoming class, signifying strong demand for the newest campus in the UC system. “More and more students are...

New Director Looks to Build on Sexual Violence Prevention Efforts

UC Merced was ahead of the curve in 2009, when it created the Violence Prevention Program to combat sexual violence, dating and domestic violence, and stalking on campus and in the community just...

UC Merced ‘Cool’ Again in Sierra Sustainability Rankings

A week after being lauded by Washington Monthly in its rankings for social mobility and value, UC Merced today was named one of the Sierra Club’s “Cool Schools” for its commitment to sustainability....

Young Students a Glimpse of College Life, Leadership

Ke-Myrion Anderson had never set foot on college campus before he spent a week at UC Merced in July. The Fresno eighth-grader was one of 150 students from across California who were invited to live...

GirlCode Workshop Aims to Address STEM Gender Gap

Women make up about half of the nation’s college-educated workforce, but in the fields of science and engineering, that drops to less than 30 percent. UC Merced’s STEM Resource Center is working to...

Alumna Stays Local, Pledges to Serve the Underserved

When she began her journey at UC Merced, Sheena Truong had the future planned out. She’d graduate, go to dental school and become an orthodontist. But Merced had more to offer — and in a roundabout...

Alumnus Named Women's Volleyball Coach

Surabordin “Ai” Prachumsri has been hired to take the helm as UC Merced’s second head coach in women's volleyball and the first alumnus to become a head coach for the campus. Prachumsri brings a...