Berkeley Extension Increases UC Merced’s Summer Options

For the past few years, UC Merced’s Summer Session program has been committed to making the campus a convenient place for current and prospective students – and community members – to continue or try out research-focused courses here in the San Joaquin Valley.

This year, UC Merced is taking it a step further by offering UC Berkeley Extension courses at its Fresno Center. Summer offerings at UC Merced’s Fresno Center will include professional courses in project management, counseling, computer systems and programming, solar energy and digital publishing. More courses will be added in the fall.

These classes offer the perfect opportunity for Valley professionals to further hone their skills and increase their market value in the workforce. Registration for the Extension courses beginning in June is still open. For information: www.unex.berkeley.edu/merced/

Read more.

Freshman Makes His Mark at UC Merced

UC Merced freshman David Cheng is the multimedia mastermind behind the "We Believe" video that enticed First Lady Michelle Obama to serve as the university's keynote speaker at Commencement 2009.

The Hong Kong native has been creating films almost as long as he can remember, and was excited to be invited by "Dear Michelle" Campaign organizers to join the student-driven initiative to bring the First Lady to UC Merced.

"It makes me feel really awesome," he said.

Read more.

UC Merced's Inaugural Class "Inspires" First Lady Michelle Obama

MERCED, Calif. – With First Lady Michelle Obama providing inspiration and encouragement, and with more than 12,000 attendees cheering them on, some 350 members of the University of California, Merced’s historic inaugural class were awarded bachelor’s degrees today at the four-year-old university’s first full commencement ceremony.

“As the students who helped build this school, I ask you, make your legacy a lasting one,” Mrs. Obama told the graduates as an enthusiastic crowd of students, family members, dignitaries, university personnel, community members and other well-wishers looked on.

“Dream big, think broadly about your life and please make giving back to your community a part of that vision,” she said. “Take the same hope and optimism, the hard work and tenacity that brought you to this point, and carry that with you for the rest of your life in whatever you choose to do.”

Mrs. Obama said she accepted the students’ invitation to speak – her first commencement address as First Lady of the United States – because she was moved by the sincerity and creativity of their appeal. The student-led initiative included a YouTube video, a Facebook campaign and more than 900 Valentine’s Day cards.

“You inspired me!” she said.

Read more.

UC Merced to Twitter Commencement Updates

Follow UC Merced on Twitter to get moment-by-moment updates of Commencement events Saturday, May 16, when the Class of 2009 welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama as its keynote speaker. You can also text "follow @ucmerced" to 40404, if you're already a Twitter member.

There are no tickets left for the afternoon event, but those in the Merced area can see a live broadcast downtown at the city's Cap & Town Festival, on the university's Web site, the MercedSunStar.com, ABC30.com,and even on Comcast.

Go Bobcats!

UC Merced Graduate Students Create Public Service Announcements

Graduate students in the Current Topics in Quantitative and Systems Biology course, QSB 290, are getting the opportunity to create public service announcements (PSAs) with help from a former scientist turned acclaimed filmmaker.

Students will work with former evolutionary ecologist Randy Olson during the projects’ final stages. Olson will be on campus the week of May 4 for three days as the students finish filming and editing their PSAs. The finished PSAs will be one minute long.

The project culminates on Wednesday, May 6, with a public viewing and panel discussion in the Lakireddy Auditorium at 6 p.m. The event also includes a screening of Olson’s 2006 documentary, “Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus.” The event is free and open to the public.

The PSAs are a way to present scientific information to the general public in a message that is accessible.

Read more.