Alumni Relations and the Community Engagement Center (CEC) hosted Bobcats Give Back: Day of Service at Lake Yosemite as part of Student Philanthropy Month. 
Nearly 70 students, alumni and staff gathered at Scout Island at the lake on March 12 to beautify the park by painting picnic tables and bollards, as well as collecting litter. Attendees donned their Journey shirts to symbolize that giving back to their communities is a part of UC Merced’s DNA.
UC Merced’s Mobile Maker Lab served as the base camp for the event.
“As always, our Bobcats came through serving our community. The County Parks and Lake Yosemite representatives were so grateful for the help preparing the park for the season ahead. The CEC was also appreciative of this opportunity to partner with Alumni Relations in the observation of Student Philanthropy Month activities,” said Vernette Doty, director of the Community Engagement Center.
“It's been inspiring to see our students come out and participate in our first Student Philanthropy Month. The amount of engagement we've seen from our students and alumni in these first two activities shows our collective dedication to UC Merced and beyond,” said Jessica “JaeJae” Julian ’10, interim director of Alumni Relations. “I know how passionate our alumni are in supporting students and continuing to make a difference for a place they called home. It’s a true embodiment of our Bobcat spirit and the culture of philanthropy at UC Merced.”
