Students

UC Merced Alum, Now a Robotics Expert for Amazon, Advises Students to Get Their Hands Dirty

January 6, 2026

Kevin Arrieta is pictured speaking to an electrical engineering class at UC Merced.

Kevin Arrieta got into robotics to avoid getting into trouble. Arrieta said he joined the robotics club at his Compton high school after the teacher who ran it gave him an ultimatum. "I had gotten in with the wrong crowd," he said. "I had a physics teacher who told me, '...

Youth Grapple with Interpreting the Unspoken for Their Immigrant Families

UC Merced researchers are shedding light on a little-explored aspect of cross-cultural communication that involves no spoken words but sometimes can cause confusion and anguish for children acting as...

A photo montage depicts several students at UC Merced.

Student Philanthropy Month Encourages Bobcats to Give Time, Talent, Treasure

UC Merced invites all Bobcats to give back to the university and campus community by participating in numerous events planned throughout March as part of the third annual Student Philanthropy Month...

Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Offers Students New Opportunities, Free Lunch

Students interested in social and racial justice, working with communities in the area, further understanding of critical race and ethnic studies, leadership opportunities and teamwork are invited to...

Current students holding signs welcoming new students

UC Merced: Another Double-digit Rise in Applications

Nearly 33,000 prospective first-year and transfer students applied to UC Merced for the fall 2024 semester — a 12% increase from last year’s applicant pool. “It is clear that the...

Mother and daughter conduct a science experiment.

Mother Daughter Science Camp Offers Girls Insight into Future Pathways

Merced area fourth- and fifth-grade girls and their mothers recently participated in hands-on scientific projects in a UC Merced classroom laboratory that was transformed for one day into an exciting...

Education Council and Fidelity Honor Transformation at UC Merced

The American Council on Education (ACE) and Fidelity Investments this week presented the 2024 Award for Institutional Transformation to UC Merced and to Florida Atlantic University. The award,...

Members of UC Merced's Black Student Coalition are shown.

Black Student Coalition Grows - A Lot

Editor's note: In honor of Black History Month, the UC Merced newsroom is highlighting some of the organizations, services and people who serve or represent the Black community on campus. UC...

Orquidea Largo and Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz are seen in side-by-side images.

Grant Supports UC Merced Effort to Improve College Readiness in Valley

A significant grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will advance UC Merced's efforts to create a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of college readiness among high-school...

Groundbreaking Sorority Hosts Black History Month Celebration

Editor's note: In honor of Black History Month, the UC Merced newsroom is highlighting some of the organizations, services and people who serve or represent the Black community on campus....