University Advancement
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Volunteer to deliver cookies and cheer August 22-23
For the past three years, UC Santa Cruz’s Government & Community Relations Department has been meeting neighbors at the annual city-wide Neighborhood Block Parties, dropping off a plate of homemade cookies and letting community members know they are appreciated.
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Alumnus and Pixar editor Kevin Nolting empowers next-gen filmmakers at UCSC
Kevin Nolting (Porter ’79, aesthetic studies) founded Slug 48 within UC Santa Cruz’s Arts Division in 2024. The 48-hour filmmaking event empowers UC Santa Cruz students to push past creative boundaries.
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Alumna María Ramos Bracamontes champions indigenous farmworker health and justice
María Ascención Ramos Bracamontes (Merrill ’02, language studies and Latino American and Latino studies) is a certified midwife, community activist, and founder of mutual aid organization Campesina Womb Justice, advocating and supporting farmworker women’s health.
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A ripple effect of support: Alumna Bev Crair uplifts student success
Alumna Bev Crair (Stevenson ’83, computer science and mathematics) actively supports UC Santa Cruz philanthropically and currently serves as the co-chair for the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Inspiring Change.
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UC Santa Cruz celebrates the Class of 2026 during commencement weekend
More than 5,000 graduating students and nearly 30,000 guests gathered at UC Santa Cruz across 11 commencement ceremonies, where student and keynote speakers reflected on resilience, community, and navigating an uncertain future.
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CEJA at UC Santa Cruz: Preparing alumni for academic and community impact
Alumni Desiree Ryan (Ph.D. ’24, psychology), David Amaral (Ph.D. ’22, politics), Melina Singh (Ph.D. ‘23, psychology), and Rosalie Lansing (Rachel Carson ’24, sociology) share their experiences with the Center for Economic Justice and Action and how it prepared them to be successful in their careers.
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Thirty years of investing in communities: Alumna Shannon Lawder on language, philanthropy, and following your passion
UC Santa Cruz alumna Shannon Lawder (Kresge ’91, Russian studies) is the director of the Civil Society Program at the Mott Foundation. The Mott Foundation has supported communities worldwide for 100 years, and Lawder has been part of that mission for 31 years.
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Celebrating the Class of 2026
UC Santa Cruz is highlighting some of the amazing students in the Class of 2026. Video vignettes will be published throughout the week.
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Second cohort of Sabatte Scholars celebrate first-year completion
The Sabatte Family Scholarship, established in 2024, provides full-ride scholarships to about 40–50 students each year. The scholarship was made possible through the generous support of alumnus Richard “Rick” Sabatte, who created the scholarship with a gift in his will.
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California Primary Election June 2 – Make a plan, avoid the wait, and vote early!
For the California elections on June 2, we highly encourage you to register to vote and vote early at the campus’s Voting Center open at Merrill Cultural Center starting Saturday, May 30, and through Election Day on Tuesday, June 2.
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Creativity and community: Student Rebecca Oregel shares impact of scholarship support on her UCSC journey
As the recipient of the Alumni Association Scholarship and Eric Thomas Memorial Award, Rebecca Oregel reflects on how that support has fueled her journey as a first-generation student, artist, and community leader at UC Santa Cruz.
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Investing in the future: UCSC retirees Edward and Miriam Landesman champion excellence in teaching and research
UC Santa Cruz retirees Ed and Miriam Landesman continue to support the university philanthropically, investing in areas close to their hearts like Cal Teach and the Emeriti Association, and expanding accessibility to excellence in teaching and research through the Landesman Lectures. Ed worked at UC Santa Cruz for 28 years before retiring in 1994, and…