Undergraduate Experience at UC Merced

Student & Alumni Success

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 students will walk the stage at Spring Commencement 2026, marking a record-setting...

Undergrad Experience: Diana Cruz Garcia

Name: Diana Cruz Garcia Year: Fourth Year Major: Bioengineering Hometown: Los Angeles What is a memorable project that you worked on during your time at UC Merced? The most memorable...

Undergrad Experience: Allen Kalampukattussery

Name: Allen Kalampukattussery   Year: Third year Major: Biological Sciences, Human Biology emphasis Hometown: San Jose What is a memorable project that you worked on during your...

Undergrad Experience: Austin John Escobar

Name: Austin John Escobar Year: Third year Major: Biological Sciences with Human Emphasis; minor in Education Hometowns: Dublin, Calif., and Manila, Philippines What is a memorable...
uc merced students basketball court

UC Merced Services Clear the Path for Incoming Students

A student can swing between confidence and uncertainty in the months between signing a university’s acceptance letter and the first day of classes. The people at UC Merced entrusted with...

Undergraduate Experience: Erika Estrada Rodriquez

Name: Erika Estrada Rodriguez Year: Third Year Major: Sociology Hometown: Panorama City What is a memorable project that you worked on during your time at UC Merced...
Selina Brinkmann, who will graduate in May with a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, is UC Merced’s first student to earn a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Mechanical Engineering Student Named the Campus’s First Rhodes Scholar

UC Merced master’s student Selina Brinkmann has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship for study at Oxford University — a first for the campus. “A Rhodes Scholarship being awarded to...

Undergrad Experience: Magali Torres Cervantes

Name: Magali Torres Cervantes Year: Third year Major: Management and Business Economics Hometown: Merced   What is a memorable project that you worked on during your time at UC...

Undergrad Experience: Amelia Wood

Name: Amelia Wood Year: Third year Major: Biological Sciences (Human Biology emphasis); Natural Sciences Education minor Hometown: Stockton  What is a memorable project that you...

Undergrad Experience: Anthony Rodriguez

Name: Anthony Rodriguez Year: Fourth year Major: Materials Science and Engineering Hometown: Bell, near Los Angeles What is a memorable project that you worked on during your time at UC...

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