Surabordin "Ai" Prachumsri has been hired to take the helm as UC Merced’s second head coach in women's volleyball and the first alumnus to become a head coach for the campus.
When she began her journey at UC Merced, Sheena Truong had the future planned out. She’d graduate, go to dental school and become an orthodontist. But Merced had more to offer — and in a roundabout way, it became her destination.
Editor's note: The following story appeared in the spring issue of UC Merced Magazine.
When Abraham Olivares moved to Merced at age 20, a career in education was the furthest thing from his mind.
Olivares said he didn’t have a lot of confidence in his abilities back then. Life is quite different now that he is the associate principal for Student Support at Golden Valley High School in Merced.
Several students, faculty members and the provost represented UC Merced at the University of California’s recent Carbon Slam event, placing in the presentation competitions and increasing the campus’s visibility among peers and the public.
For many UC Merced students, visiting Yosemite is a relaxing way to spend a weekend. But for several UC Merced students, the past weekend was extremely hectic and a little nerve-wracking — but full of pride — as they helped Yosemite National Park host President Barack Obama and the first family.
“They didn’t tell us we were going to meet the president until just a few hours before,” senior cognitive science student and Ranger Jessica Rivas said. “It was an amazing honor.”
Ke-Myrion Anderson had never set foot on college campus before he spent a week at UC Merced in July.
Faculty members from the 
Surabordin "Ai" Prachumsri has been hired to take the helm as UC Merced’s second head coach in 
When she began her journey at UC Merced, Sheena Truong had the future planned out. She’d graduate, go to dental school and become an orthodontist. But Merced had more to offer — and in a roundabout way, it became her destination.
Researchers at UC Merced are making a big deal
