Donors
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From student, to alumna, to staff member: Tracy Murray reflects on the impact of giving
Tracy Murray (Porter ’94, feminist studies) is the corporate development and alumni career programs manager at UC Santa Cruz. Her giving directly reflects the programs she sees making an impact every day.
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From founding faculty to future generations
Celebrating Jim Pepper’s 50-year legacy of teaching, mentorship, and environmental leadership
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Rooted in education, expanding opportunity
Inspired by a shared love of learning and a family of educators, alumnus Roger Koopmann (Stevenson ’80, economics) and his late husband, Tom Bullen (Ph.D. ’86, Earth sciences), established scholarships that give UC Santa Cruz students the chance to pursue research and study abroad experiences.
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Opening Doors: The Sergio Klor de Alva Memorial Scholarship
After losing her 24-year-old son in 2016, Julie Lawes transformed her grief into mission: creating a memorial scholarship in his name. The Sergio Klor de Alva Memorial Scholarship helps UC Santa Cruz students pursue life-changing experiences—a legacy born from a mother’s love and her son’s keen insights.
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The future of science
A generous gift from the Mayfield Fund is transforming undergraduate research and mentorship opportunities at UC Santa Cruz, creating a powerful chain reaction of scientific mentorship across disciplines.
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Celebrating impact: The Sabatte Family Scholarship
The inaugural cohort of Sabatte Family Scholars is wrapping up their first year at UC Santa Cruz. Several scholars recently gathered with members of the donor’s family to celebrate the generous vision of the late Richard Sabatte.
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Early staff member Nancy Pascal fuels student opportunities
Nancy Pascal has remained a dedicated supporter of the campus, giving back philanthropically to scholarships and programs that reflect her lifelong connection to the university
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A sanctuary for women leaders: CoRE receives transformative gift
Anonymous gift strengthens the future of retreats designed to empower women leaders across academia and industry
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Forum captures urgency to use ecosystems now to keep people safe from looming natural disasters
The National Practice Forum on Nature-Based Solutions was held in Irvine on February 4 and 5, and sponsored by UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR). The forum drew over 500 attendees from around the country to discuss how our ecosystems can protect us from natural disasters.
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Research Corporation for Science Advancement honors Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz
Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz has been named a recipient of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement’s (RCSA) Robert Holland Jr. Award, which honors outstanding contributions to research, leadership, and mentorship in the sciences.
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Whale waste helps health of oceans by funneling nutrients to the tropics, new study shows
New research shows that whales move nutrients thousands of miles—in their pee and poop—from as far as Alaska to Hawaii, supporting the health of tropical ecosystems and fish. UC Santa Cruz professors Dan Costa and Ari Friedlaender contributed their marine-mammal expertise to the study, which was published on March 10 in the journal Nature Communications.
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New eye-tracking VR experience, Face Jumping, wins XR Audience Award at SXSW
After debuting at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2025, Face Jumping won the conference’s XR Experience audience award among the 15 creators working at the intersection of technology and immersive art who participated in the XR Experience competition. Gorman presented the VR experience alongside her Tender Claws team, an independent art and creative studio that she…