Some of the citizens that Julianne Cravotto has helped register to vote may just one day cast their ballots for her. The political science and history major, to be honored as the top graduating senior at UC Davis, is embarking on a career in public service and has ambitions of being a state legislator. And the award she has won attests that she is well on her way. The University Medal — to be presented at the College of Letters and Science commencement at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15 — recognizes excellence in undergraduate studies, outstanding community service, and the promise of future scholarship and contributions to society.

Julie Cravotto, an aspiring policymaker with dreams of resolving California’s housing crisis, is the recipient of the 2019 Herbert A. Young Award for outstanding senior in the UC Davis College of Letters and Science.

Michael O’Hearn will be hitting a high note when he walks across the stage at the fall commencement of the University of California, Davis, on Saturday, Dec. 15.

UC Davis senior Nina Forest, competing as Miss Idaho for the Miss America title, finished in the pageant’s top 10 on Sunday. An aspiring civil rights attorney who is majoring in international relations and minoring in Chinese, Forest promoted her “Leave Childhood Hunger Behind” platform, focused on decreasing food insecurity in Idaho.

Eight student leaders in the College of Letters and Science have been recognized as United Nations Millennium Fellows.

Nina Forest’s summer got off to an unexpectedly busy start—with a series of news interviews, official appearances at parades, festivals and other community events, and preparations for the Miss America competition. A UC Davis senior majoring in international relations and minoring in Chinese, Forest was crowned in June as Miss Idaho 2018.

Two UC Davis undergraduates won the $10,000 first prize in the 18th annual UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition on May 24, 2018. Their venture, Japa Inc., takes the pain out of finding parking with a mobile app that employs smart data and advanced analytics to provide drivers with real-time parking availability.

UC Davis Creative Writing graduate student Cristina Fries is one of the 12 winners of the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. It is given by PEN American, an organization that offers a wide range of support to writers.

Shengling “Wilburn” Wang, a senior majoring in communication and economics, was recently awarded a $1,000 study abroad grant from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Wang will use the grant for a three-week UC Davis Study Abroad seminar in Pokhara, Nepal, over the winter break.

Faculty and students from the Department of Chemistry shared their personal experiences and gave advice to help students make the most of their undergraduate research experience. Here are their best tips.

Back-to-school time at the UC Davis College of Letters and Science means a rededication to our mission as a liberal arts powerhouse. More than ever, we’re focused on growing our students’ intellectual adaptability, critical thinking, and collaborative commitment to improving themselves and the world around them.

International student Dhrubajyoti “Dhru” Das (B.A., economics, ’18) is one in a billion. Das took deep dives into researching Silicon Valley and its inner workings, eventually applying to UC Davis, a few hours away from the world-famous technology hub he had been studying for so long.

Irene Mapanao never dreamed she would be able to attend UC Davis. She thought the cost was out of reach. Then an email arrived announcing she was the recipient of a first-year scholarship. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, Mapanao can now dare to dream big.

Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, each year the College of Letters and Science provides scholarships that make a real difference in the lives of our students. Your support helps empower the next generation of leaders such as Rose Trulin and Chloe Tsudama—both received gifts through the Letters and Science Undergraduate Scholarship Fund.

Rose Trulin studies people and artistic expressions 

Rose Trulin, a double major in art history and anthropology, grew up in Chico and is the first member of her family to attend college.

Psychology major Brynna Thigpen got an early introduction to scientific research. Thigpen was one of six undergraduates to first participate in the Accelerating Success by Providing Intensive Research Experience program, or ASPIRE.