From Atwater to UC Merced with a Big Head Start

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2026 semester.

Tayven Tipler won’t travel far from his hometown when he starts at UC Merced and he is already well along on his higher education journey. Tipler completed several courses at Merced College as a high school student.

Where I come from: I live in Atwater, where I was born and raised. I graduated this spring from Buhach Colony High School. 

What I've done: I graduated with an associate’s degree from Merced College, thanks to Merced Union High School District’s dual enrollment program. This has helped me excel in general education courses that transfer to UC Merced. I volunteered at Mercy Medical Center and at the Atwater Stingrays swim club.  I was a four-year varsity swimmer and water polo player. I received Buhach Colony’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in 2026. Everything I do and strive for is to build a better life for my family and friends, as well as people in my community. 

Why I'm excited about coming to UC Merced: Having UC Merced so close to where I was born and raised is a blessing, as I can get a great education for the medical pathway I want to follow, as well as have a great social life on campus. 

My academic and personal goals: I plan to graduate with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences then go to medical school in California. While at UC Merced, I want to gain personal connections with my community and peers.

My favorite food: I love a nice Caesar salad — cold, refreshing lettuce with yolk-based dressing. It’s a food I can always come back to that rejuvenates me. 

If I could keep only three apps on my phone, they would be: Messages, the weather app and TikTok. My main form of communication on my phone is Messages, as I feel it is the most reliable. The weather app is the first app I open when I wake up to get ready for the day, and TikTok is for whenever I get bored and want to be up to date with society.