Undergraduate Studies

As graduation nears, student creates a ‘time capsule’ of her Berkeley experience

May 7, 2024

This first-person narrative was written from an interview with Daniella Lake, who will graduate this May with a degree in media studies.

I was born in Los Angeles. I’m the first person in my family who was born in the U.S. My family’s originally from Sierra Leone, on the west coast of Africa. My parents spent a lot of time moving during the 1990s because there was a civil war in Sierra Leone and my dad worked for the United Nations, so my brother and sister spent time growing up in other African countries — Eritrea, Ghana and Gambia. I had a very different childhood...

Alejandro Alvarez: "For those planning to participate in UCDC, put yourself out there and seize opportunities when they arise."

April 8, 2024
Each fall and spring, a cohort of UC juniors and seniors embark on an academic journey to the epicenter of American politics and culture: Washington, D.C. The UCDC program provides students from all majors with the unique opportunity to study and learn in the nation's capital, where they engage in internships, research endeavors, and academic coursework.

Below, Alejandro Alvarez shares his experience as an alum of the UCDC Program in spring 2023. Alejandro is majoring in political science and history, with a minor in conservation and resource studies. Alejandro plans to graduate this...

L&S Staff Spotlight: Alicia Hayes

April 4, 2024
Meet Alicia Hayes, Associate Director, National Scholarships and Experiential Fellowships, Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarships (OURS). Alicia has managed the OURS National Scholarships Office since 2001. In this role, she administers the scholarship selection processes for numerous nationally competitive scholarship and fellowship competitions, including the Rhodes, Goldwater, and Truman scholarships.

In 2010 and 2022, Alicia received the Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award, presented to individual staff members and teams demonstrating exceptional...