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Thousands to converge on campus for Bobcat Day and more

April 14, 2008

UC Merced students, faculty and staff are almost growling with excitement this week, as the campus community prepares for its biggest event of the year: Bobcat Day.

The annual campus open house will take place Saturday, April 19, in conjunction with the third annual Fairy Shrimp Festival and “Third Ever UC Merced Family Art Show.”

Though public activities begin at 10 a.m., event volunteers will be on campus as early as 6 a.m. to make sure everything goes according to plan, and prospective students get the most out of their visit.

Bobcat Day provides an opportunity for newly admitted students, prospective students and their families to visit the campus, listen to separate panel discussions for parents and students, interact with faculty, students and staff, and to learn about UC Merced’s various student organizations and activities. Students will have access to representatives from Academic Advising, Financial Aid, Housing, Health Services, Student Life and Recreation.

This year’s open house will feature general campus tours and in-depth tours of the following areas: campus housing, Leo and Dottie Kolligian Library and the Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and Wellness Center.

“It’s a one-stop shop for incoming students and their families,” said Alex Delgadillo, UC Merced director of outreach.

For more information about Bobcat Day, check out the event podcast, visit the Admissions Web site, or contact Delgadillo at (209) 228-4625 or (866) 270-7301 (toll-free in California). To take part in all Bobcat Day has to offer, registration on the Admissions Web site is required.

The third annual Fairy Shrimp Festival is a family-friendly event hosted by the Office of Student Life. This year’s program theme, “Change Your Habits, Change Your Future” will showcase how small changes can make a big difference.

It’s how our campus celebrates Earth Day,” said Jim Greenwood, volunteer coordinator for the Office of Student Life, and the event’s organizer. “We combine an arts-and-crafts fair with vendors who promote sustainability and provide educational information about the environment.”

The festival, which is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m., is free and open to everyone. A live band, the Super Lucky Catz, will entertain attendees from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. outside of the Yablokoff-Wallace Dining Center on Scholars Lane.

For more information about the Fairy Shrimp Festival, contact Greenwood at (209) 228-2582. You can also learn more by visiting studentlife.ucmerced.edu.

In addition, the “Third Ever UC Merced Family Art Show” opens April 15 and runs through May 9. UC Merced students, staff, faculty and relatives of campus employees have submitted a variety of painting, drawing, sculpture, other visual arts and everyone’s favorite — children’s art!

The exhibition will be shown in the east wing of the Kolligian Library. Everyone is welcome to view the art during the open house events on April 19 or anytime the Kolligian Library is open. For more information, contact libraryexhibits@ucmerced.edu.