By Tonya Kubo, University Communications

Water is a delicate balancing act in California. When the scales tip in the wrong direction, the consequences can have national effects. Nobody knows this better than UC Water Co-Director Joshua Viers.

The newest campus in the University of California system, UC Merced is a campus that attracts leaders — individuals who enjoy the challenge of paving the way for others to follow — and the Class of 2017 is no different.

Giving Tuesday UC Merced, the campus’s annual campaign to raise money for scholarships and fellowships, generated more than $700,000 in about 24 hours. Close to 750 individuals — including students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members — participated in the campaign, and many donated more than once throughout the day. This concerted effort led to the third-annual event raising more than twice as much as last year.