Student Life

Student Finds Community and Purpose Through Culture and Literature

March 12, 2026

Student stands outdoors on the UC Merced campus holding a notebook and pen, looking off into the distance near a campus walkway lined with leafless trees.

Between classes at UC Merced, you will often find Padme James under the trees outside the Leo and Dottie Kolligian Library. What she studies there isn’t directly correlated to her classwork, but it connects her roots to where she hopes her future is headed. Instead of reviewing notes for a...

UC Merced Unveils Big Rufus, a Monument to Resilience, Diversity and Hope

UC Merced on Wednesday unveiled a striking monument to a university on the rise. A crowd of students, faculty and staff gathered in the early evening’s long shadows at University Plaza to...

UC Merced new Bobcat Bound Leslie Aquino

Bakersfield Student Ready to Go the Distance at UC Merced

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester. A high school distance runner from Bakersfield is striding into new territory, becoming the...

Photo shows people using carts to move items into dorms at UC Merced.

UC Merced Welcomes Students For Fall 2024 Semester

As classes begin Wednesday for UC Merced's 20th academic year, the campus and its offerings continue to grow to meet the needs of students and the community at large. Edwin Lopez was so...

New UC Merced student Antonio "Tony" Lopez-Blanco

Central Coast Student Brings Flair for Robotics to UC Merced

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester. After diving into robotics in high school, Antonio "Tony" Lopez-Blanco is...

Honor Student Gives UC Merced a New 'Cat to Cheer About

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester. Jenna Hinds, a Central Valley native, is bringing spirit to UC Merced. Hinds discovered a...

A graphic depicts a book, a light bulb, a computer and a photo of Lucas Khoi Nguyen.

New Bobcat from Atwater Aims High in Business, Basketball

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester. Lucas Khoi Nguyen was a standout student athlete at Atwater High School before signing a...

UC Merced student Josh Ren is pictured in an economics class.

Students Find Inspiration, Success at UC Merced

Coming out of high school in San Jose, Josh Ren found himself with limited options for college. He wasn't sold on UC Merced at first, but eventually jumped at the opportunity to attend a...

It’s Official: UC Merced to Compete in NCAA Division II Athletics

UC Merced will begin Division II competition after official acceptance Thursday by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). The university will begin NCAA Division II competition in the...

UC Merced VC of Student Affairs Charles Nies with students

Lighting the Path: Thank You and Farewell to Charles Nies

It’s spring break 2009 and Jane Lawrence is rushing across campus, the words from the phone call still ringing in her ear. The unimaginable is happening and she must tell Charles Nies...