Undergraduate Experience at UC Merced

Student & Alumni Success

Commuter Student Finds Belonging at UC Merced

March 31, 2026

Headshot Jacqueline Garcia
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...

Cal-Bridge Scholar Rolando Ortega Wants to Build the Future

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2025 semester.  Rolando Ortega is closing in on his dream of earning a Ph.D. This fall, the Cal-Bridge...

Buhach Valedictorian Pursues Environmental Engineering at UC Merced this Fall

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2025 semester. Drake Ledford was an exemplary high school student, earning a 4.29 GPA. The Merced...
Incoming UC Merced student Manjot Maan is pictured shooting a basketball against a graphic that reads "Bobcat Bound"

New Adventures Close to Home for Incoming UC Merced Student

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2025 semester. Manjot Maan is a student-athlete from Modesto who will focus on academics when he...
Two people with a banner, blue and yellow graphic reading "Bobcat Bound."

Incoming Bobcats ‘Grew Up’ with UC Merced

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2025 semester. One could say UC Merced has always been part of incoming Bobcats Ella and Satchel Ortez...

UC Merced Recognized Nationally for Excellence, Affordability and Student Success

UC Merced remains one of the top universities in the nation according to Money’s 2025 “Best Colleges in America” report. The university earned 4.5 stars out of 5 in Money’s...

New Alumni-Funded Endowment to Champion LGBTQ+ Initiatives at UC Merced

A group of dedicated UC Merced alumni have come together to launch an endowed fund focused on supporting LGBTQ+ student initiatives, programs and priorities. Spearheaded by University of...
A large group of UC Merced Extension students holding up their certificates is pictured.

Community Health Worker Program Celebrates First Graduates

The region has nearly 170 newly certified community health workers after the first cohort completed a specialized training program at UC Merced. Graduates of the training, offered through the...
Interdisciplinary Humanities Ph.D. graduate Nicolette Lecy and her 4-year-old son, Alejandro

Humanities Alum Advocates for Student Parents

When Nicolette Lecy began her graduate studies at UC Merced, life was anything but typical. It was August 2020, in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lecy’s classes were held remotely, and...

‘Queen of the Court’ Ready to Make Her Mark at UC Merced

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2025 semester. Michailla Springs led her high school basketball team in scoring and earned MVP honors. With a...

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