Brenda Ortiz

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 beyond high school financially accessible to all Californians.

“It’s an honor to be appointed to this important commission to further increase and enhance student access to financial support in California,” Nies said. “Financial aid is a critical factor for many students to successfully accomplish their academic, career and personal goals.”

UC Merced Athletics received a generous donation from longtime campus supporter Greg Hostetler, owner of Stonefield Home of Los Banos.

The gift recognizes and supports two student-athletes from communities where Hostetler conducts business.

Jade Fachin, a junior biological sciences major from Los Banos, and Jessica Pinasco, a first-year biological sciences major from Atwater, are outside hitters for the team. Pinasco was named to MaxPreps Division III All-State Volleyball Team in January 2017.

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 its 13th commencement exercises, May 12 and 13.

UC Merced is one of the first recipients of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery’s new Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant.

As part of the state’s comprehensive strategy, CalRecycle awarded $9.4 million to 31 projects throughout California.

Starting and navigating the career-planning process can be daunting for any college student, but especially for those who will be the first in their families to graduate from college.

People on college campuses hold a wide range of views, and the First Amendment gives everyone the right to express their opinions. But restricting speech at a public institution — even when what’s said is unpopular, offensive or even hateful — is against the law.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, shared that and other messages with students, faculty, staff and administrators at UC Merced this week as part of the Chancellor’s Dialogue on Diversity and Interdisciplinarity lecture series.

UC Merced has a new Sustainability Strategic Plan to help the campus further advance its sustainability goals.

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 cultivate seeds of hope.

UC Merced alumnus Michael Urner is one of five finalists in the University of California new “I am a UC Entrepreneur” contest.

Urner was selected from a pool of 169 contestants — representing all 10 UC campuses — for his innovation and creativity in co-founding Tergis Technologies, a company developing new medical devices to reduce the number of hospital-acquired infections.

The UC Merced Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is committed to ensuring a world-class education remains within reach for all eligible students who need financial assistance to achieve their educational goals. The office focuses on student success by providing financial aid and advising services that support student recruitment, retention and timely degree completion.