By Brenda Ortiz, University Communications

For senior Jessica Nguyen, UC Merced has fueled more than academic preparedness — it has sparked her fervent interest in civic leadership.

This year isn’t the first time Maxine Umeh-Garcia has walked across the commencement stage at the University of California, Merced. She was part of the campus's graduating class in 2010.

But this time will be markedly different. Umeh-Garcia is receiving a master’s degree in quantitative and systems biology, and she will represent the Class of 2013 at one of two commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 18 and 19.

UC Merced will commemorate the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking with a series of Founders Day events Oct. 25 through 27.

http://youtu.be/j2U-5-7wSKE

After two months on the job, UC Merced’s first full-time medical director has already entrenched himself in campus life and understanding student needs.

Dr. Brandon Boggs, a Merced native, has practiced emergency medicine for the past 10 years, including seven as medical director for an emergency department in Oakdale. Early in his career he worked as a family practitioner in private practice with a cardiologist and pulmonologist, and served as medical director of large nursing and rehabilitation center.

Students from eight San Joaquin Valley high schools are getting extra assistance in preparing for college, thanks to a federal grant received by the Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP) at the University of California, Merced.