Spirits remained high at UC Merced’s annual Scholars Bridge Crossing, despite a summer storm that drenched the event on Tuesday morning. The ceremony marked the university’s traditional welcome for about 2,000 new first-year and transfer students as the campus celebrates 20 years since its inaugural undergraduate class.
Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz addressed the crowd before rain intensified, saying, “We’re all excited to have you here, and we’re going to get this thing moving. 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.”
Muñoz was joined by his wife, Professor Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz, and three school deans in leading students across Scholars Lane and over the bridge. Faculty and staff cheered them on while holding signs overhead to shield from the downpour. Thunder and lightning accompanied the procession as students made their way toward the Beginnings sculpture.
Due to severe weather—unprecedented in previous ceremonies—the event was shortened, with participants quickly seeking shelter under nearby buildings. Despite these changes, faculty adapted by moving most activities indoors. Students continued celebrating with boxed lunches and maintained an upbeat mood.
Students shared their reasons for choosing UC Merced. Romeo Yang of Sacramento said he chose bioengineering because “I really liked the campus. It’s very walkable.” Winnie Mabula from San Jose cited generous financial aid offers: “I couldn’t say ‘no’ to that,” she said, adding that “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 after considering other universities because UC Merced “has a really good campus life and the best amount of things I’m looking for.”
This year’s event included welcome sessions led by academic advisers and professors such as Associate Dean Anne Zanucchi and Professor Yang Lor. Kassandra Suentel of Tracy commented on her interaction with Lor: “I asked him a couple questions and he was very informative,” she said. “He helped me start to figure out my future here.”
Fourth-year student Luis Onofre demonstrated an experiment showing how a metal wire returns to its original shape when heated: “It remembers its form,” he explained.
Public Information Officer Patty Guerra contributed reporting for this story.
