Awards

Degrees, Cheers and a Record Number of Graduates Under the Open Sky

May 13, 2026

A graduate student eagerly anticipates her hooding ceremony.

UC Merced is abuzz with celebration as students, families, friends, staff and faculty finish last-minute preparations for the largest commencement in university history. Across three outdoor ceremonies, 1,649 undergraduates and 112 graduate students will walk the stage at Spring Commencement...

Spendlove Prize recipient Nadia Murad is seen in a photo.

Nobel Laureate and Human Rights Activist Nadia Murad Celebrated as 14th Recipient of Spendlove Prize

2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Nadia Murad was honored with the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance during a virtual ceremony...

UC Merced Earns National Certification for Dedication to Latino Students

UC Merced’s commitment to the success of Latino students has been recognized with the prestigious Seal of Excelencia. The campus is among 10 institutions in the country to receive the...

NSF-CREST Center members, including faculty, staff and students, as well as center contributors and affiliates.

NSF Awards CCBM Center $5 Million to Continue STEM Research

UC Merced’s NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM) has been awarded an additional $5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue its mission. In total...

Human rights activist Nadia Murad is seen in a photo.

Spendlove Prize to Be Presented to Human Rights Activist and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Nadia Murad

Human rights activist Nadia Murad has been selected as the 14th recipient of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance. The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize...

Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz outlined the progress UC Merced has achieved across many fields.

2021 State of the University Address Highlights UC Merced’s Accomplishments

Delivering his first in-person State of the University campus address, Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz outlined the progress UC Merced has achieved across many fields and laid out initial plans for...

HSRI Receives $1.2 Million to Research Health Impacts From Vehicle-Related Air Pollution

UC Merced's Health Sciences Research Institute (HSRI) has been awarded a $1.2 million grant to study the effects of vehicle emissions on public health and the environment. This award is part...

Campus Receives Distinctive Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award

As one of the most diverse universities in the country, UC Merced is devoted to continuing to provide an inclusive academic environment for all. Today (Sept. 20), UC Merced was recognized with...

UC Merced remains in the top 100, rising to 93rd among national universities

UC Merced Continues Rankings Rise

The University of California, Merced, continues its historic climb in the venerable US News & World Report rankings of U.S. universities, with the 2022 list released this morning. UC...

UC Merced Makes Princeton Review ‘Green Honor Roll,’ Remains Consistent on International Young University Rankings

UC Merced’s superb sustainability and environmental reputation continue to be a powerhouse, with The Princeton Review placing the campus among only three UCs on its ‘2022 Green Honor Roll...