Spirits remained high at the University of California, Merced as about 2,000 new students participated in the annual Scholars Bridge Crossing ceremony on Tuesday morning, despite heavy rain and thunderstorms. The event marks a key tradition for UC Merced, welcoming first-year and transfer students to campus. This year’s ceremony coincided with the 20th anniversary of UC Merced’s inaugural undergraduate class.
Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz addressed the incoming group before leading them across Scholars Bridge alongside his wife, Professor Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz, and the university’s three school deans. “We’re all excited to have you here, and we’re going to get this thing moving,” Muñoz said. “You are the realization of a future launched 20 years ago. You will find countless ways to discover who you are and who you want to become.”
Rain intensified just as remarks ended, prompting faculty and staff to cheer students along a swift walk across the bridge before everyone sought shelter under nearby buildings. Unlike previous years’ ceremonial procession through campus landmarks, weather conditions forced most activities indoors.
Despite changes in schedule, students gathered for boxed lunches and continued introductions with academic advisers and professors. Romeo Yang, a bioengineering major from Sacramento, cited campus walkability as one reason for choosing UC Merced. “I really liked the campus. It’s very walkable.” He added about welcome events: “I definitely think it will be fun here. I’ve met a lot of new people.”
Winnie Mabula from San Jose said she was drawn by both financial aid offers and campus culture: “I couldn’t say ‘no’ to that,” she said regarding her aid package. “What stood out to me is that everybody is nice and friendly. The atmosphere is very welcoming.”
Jonathan Brown from Placencia chose computer science and engineering at UC Merced after considering other California universities. “It has a really good campus life and the best amount of things I’m looking for,” he said.
This year’s event also featured sessions with academic advisers such as Associate Dean Anne Zanucchi and Professor Yang Lor from sociology. Kassandra Suentel of Tracy noted her experience: “I asked him a couple questions and he was very informative,” Suentel said of Lor. “He helped me start to figure out my future here.”
Fourth-year student Luis Onofre demonstrated materials science concepts for attendees after interning at 3M over the summer: “It remembers its form,” he explained during an interactive session.
Public Information Officer Patty Guerra contributed to this report.
