Brenda Ortiz

Students Awarded Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

June 4, 2025

Two UC Merced graduate students wearing blue

Two UC Merced graduate students and an alum from the School of Natural Sciences were recently awarded fellowships from the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. This year, NSF awarded 1,000 GRFP fellowships compared to about 2,000 in previous years...

Mario Banuelos will complete his doctoral studies in Applied Mathematics at UC Merced and participate in the university’s 13th spring commencement.

Applied Math Grad Student Committed to Central Valley Roots

When Mario Banuelos was 12, his mother took him into the fields to tie grape vines. The labor was tough and the wages were meager. After just one day on the job, Banuelos knew that his path in...

Kimberly Ramirez Gonzalez will speak to thousands of youth at WE Day California April 19.

Undergraduate Student Advocates for Youth at Empowerment Event

Kimberly Ramirez Gonzalez has been advocating for youth for four years and she is committed to dedicating the rest of her life to doing so. The third-year UC Merced student takes the stage April...

Student-athlete and leader Abbie-Leigh Meneses is preparing to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences with an emphasis human biology and a minor in anthropology.

Women’s Soccer Star, Campus Leader Wraps Four Fulfilling Years

When prospective student-athletes visit UC Merced, soccer standout Abbie-Leigh Meneses is among the first people they meet. Not long ago, Meneses was a recruit herself, touring the University of...

The Center for Career and Professional Advancement connects students to opportunities and experiences that best fit their talents through career fairs, on-campus interviews, career development programming and other opportunities.

Career-Minded Students Get a Helping Hand

Senior mechanical engineering major Kelvin Cheung from San Francisco got a head start on his career exploration during his first year at UC Merced. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM...

Two students decorate t-shirts for the Clothesline Project, one of many campus activities to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Stand Up, Speak Out Against Sexual Assault, Sexual Violence

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and UC Merced is hosting a series of events to provide campus community members opportunities to increase awareness and advocate for sexual assault...

Ma Kelley Memorial Golf Tournament to Raise Funds for Student Athletes

The 21st annual Ma Kelley Memorial Golf Tournament will be held April 13 at the Turlock Golf and Country Club and proceeds benefit UC Merced student athletes. Tickets for the 18-hole tournament...

Governor Names Nies to California Student Aid Commission

UC Merced’s Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Charles Nies has been appointed to the California Student Aid Commission by Gov. Jerry Brown. The commission is tasked with making education...

Jonathan Grady oversees UC Merced’s Office of Student Life, Calvin E. Bright Success Center and the Student Response Team.

Campus Voices: Positioning Students as Architects of Social Change

Working in education over the years, I have learned to never let inhospitable and toxic circumstances destroy one’s soul, but to use education as a way to empower, transform, radically heal and...

The campus is preparing for the largest graduating class of roughly 1,200 candidates who are eligible to participate in the weekend’s ceremonies.

CNN Contributor Maria Cardona, Civic Leader Lenny Mendonca to Speak at UC Merced’s Largest Commencement Ceremonies

The University of California, Merced, has selected political commentator and public affairs professional Maria Cardona and civic leader and entrepreneur Lenny Mendonca to deliver keynote addresses at...