Commencement

UC Merced Graduates Encouraged to Embrace Every Moment

May 19, 2025

With cheers, hugs and leis, more than 1,500 UC Merced graduates received a celebratory sendoff to their bright futures as a prominent keynote speaker told them to make the most of the here and now. Hundreds of families and friends joined the graduates in three days of commencement ceremonies at...

Senior Balances Athletics, Academics With Agility

Growing up in Bangkok, Surabordin Prachumsri knew what he wanted to do at an early age. Now in his final year at UC Merced, that hasn’t changed for the 22-year-old. “My mom is an anthropologist, and...

Student Commencement Speakers Blaze Paths as Campus Leaders

Students Jamie Sweet and Vanessa Estavillo have much more in common than a love of UC Merced, a legacy of leadership and being members of the Class of 2014. These two women have been chosen to speak...

Student’s Lengthy Academic Journey Concludes at Commencement

For Helen Dahman, college was always more marathon than sprint. Now 73, Dahman was just out of high school when she took her first college classes. But she wasn’t ready then and instead entered the...

Commencement Speakers Bring Varied Experience to Campus’s Largest Commencement

The University of California, Merced, has selected CEO of Enduring Hydro LLC and former U.S. Undersecretary for Energy Kristina Johnson and Merced County Superior Court Judge Paul C. Lo to deliver...

UC Merced Wraps Another Record Year

Between record enrollment and research expenditures, a massive economic impact on the San Joaquin Valley, new buildings and a visit from the new UC president, the University of California, Merced,...

Computer Major Looks Forward to Job at Microsoft

On his ﬁrst tour of UC Merced almost five years ago, Andy Luhrs decided the campus was the right place for him. “The tour guide made an impression,” said Luhrs, who is from Danville. “Everyone I...

UC Merced Sends Off Class of 2013 with Twin Ceremonies

This year isn’t the first time Maxine Umeh-Garcia has walked across the commencement stage at the University of California, Merced. She was part of the campus's graduating class in 2010. But this...

Seals Attracted Grad Student to California

Born in central Mexico, the sea has long fascinated graduate student Jose Pablo Vazquez-Medina. Now, he’s hoping to figure out some of its secrets. Vazquez-Medina this year earned his doctorate in...

Graduating Student Builds Confidence, Leadership Skills

Stephanie Toledo didn’t want anything to get in the way of her academic success when she arrived at UC Merced. The shy freshman wasn’t ready to consider clubs, social activities or other campus...