University Medal Content

�ٺ��Ƶ’ Top Graduating Student Is Picnic Day Chair

Julia Ann Easley — June 07, 2022 - 11:52am

Senior Amanda Portier of the University of California, Davis, led the team of hundreds that put on this year’s Picnic Day — attended by tens of thousands of people and believed to be the largest student-run event in the country. She also has been a mentor to individuals with intellectual disabilities, shed light on social justice issues and achieved a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average.

Questions Drive Top �ٺ��Ƶ Graduate

Julia Ann Easley — June 08, 2021 - 7:36pm

Madeline Bright, who aims for a career in medical research, has been named the 2021 University Medalist as the top graduating student at the University of California, Davis.

Top �ٺ��Ƶ Graduate to Pursue Studies in Climate Change Fiction

Julia Ann Easley — June 09, 2020 - 11:55pm

An English major who aims to use fiction to address climate change is the 2020 University Medalist at �ٺ��Ƶ.

Top �ٺ��Ƶ Graduate Aims for State Legislature

Julia Ann Easley — June 10, 2019 - 10:55am

Julianne Cravotto of Berkeley will receive the University Medal as the top graduating senior at �ٺ��Ƶ.

�ٺ��Ƶ’ Top Graduate Shares Journey to Mental Well-Being

Julia Ann Easley — June 13, 2018 - 10:10am

A kick. A jab. The flash of a sword.

Emily Eijansantos of Livermore, California, executes the movements of wushu martial arts with strength of spirit and showmanship — in such contrast to the anxiety and self-doubt she experienced during her early studies at the University of California, Davis.

Top �ٺ��Ƶ Graduate Earns 2 Degrees in 3 Years

Julia Ann Easley — June 12, 2017 - 10:11am

Even as a valedictorian from a high school just 40 miles away, Srujan Kopparapu felt a little intimidated to start his studies among more than 35,000 students at the University of California, Davis.

But the Folsom resident found his place on the highly ranked campus, threw himself into research and internships, earned two degrees in just three years, and now takes the honor as its top graduating senior.

�ٺ��Ƶ Student Takes Father’s Lessons to Heart, Named Top Graduate

Julia Ann Easley — June 09, 2016 - 12:11pm

University of California, Davis, student Lucydalila Cedillo grew up in East Los Angeles in a home without books, collected recyclable cans with her mother to help support the household and didn’t know anyone who had gone to college. But on morning rides to middle school, she took to heart what her father told her about the importance of learning.

Top �ٺ��Ƶ student pursues tree-of-life research and Nerf combatants

IET WebDev — June 09, 2015 - 2:46pm

Andrew Magee, who pursues heady research on the tree of life and gives chase to combatants in campus Nerf games, has been named the top graduating senior at the University of California, Davis.

The San Jose, California, resident is the 2015 recipient of the University Medal for excellence in undergraduate studies, outstanding community service and the promise of future scholarship and contributions to society.

Top �ٺ��Ƶ graduate headed to space industry

IET WebDev — June 10, 2014 - 9:35am

Out of this world is one way to describe the top graduating senior at the University of California, Davis.

After a visit to the Kennedy Space Center when she was in high school, Ashley Coates of Hollister, California, set her sights on a career in the space industry. At �ٺ��Ƶ, she has excelled in her studies of aerospace science and mechanical engineering and been mentored by a former astronaut. And her experiences included helping to build a virtual-reality headset, reverse engineer a robotic arm and design an airplane.

Top grad helps address health-care disparities

IET WebDev — June 11, 2013 - 12:00am

The University of California, Davis, thinks Nicole Sitkin is going to go places and have an impact on the world — it has named her this year's University Medalist as the top graduating senior.

And Sitkin, who earned a bachelor's degree in December, is well on her way.

First as an undergraduate and now working at the university's School of Medicine, Sitkin is already making contributions to medical research and helping address disparities in health care, especially for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations.

University Medal Content

�ٺ���Ƶ’ Top Graduating Student Is Picnic Day Chair

Questions Drive Top �ٺ���Ƶ Graduate

Top �ٺ���Ƶ Graduate to Pursue Studies in Climate Change Fiction

Top �ٺ���Ƶ Graduate Aims for State Legislature

�ٺ���Ƶ’ Top Graduate Shares Journey to Mental Well-Being

Top �ٺ���Ƶ Graduate Earns 2 Degrees in 3 Years

�ٺ���Ƶ Student Takes Father’s Lessons to Heart, Named Top Graduate

Top �ٺ���Ƶ student pursues tree-of-life research and Nerf combatants

Top �ٺ���Ƶ graduate headed to space industry