Dondra Biller

Dondra, an aspiring oceanographer, was selected to participate in the Research Experience for Undergraduates through SIO as a research assistant on a six- week research cruise to Antarctica in 2006. Working 12 hours a day, she studied short lived radioactive isotopes of radium and thorium. She is a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, maintains Provosts Honors and is a NOAA Hollings Scholar. For two years she has volunteered at the Birch Aquarium as an exhibits interpreter. Dondra has been the captain of the women’s intramural soccer team for the past three seasons.

Michelle Blake

Michelle was a crew leader of public education for Cabrillo College’s Archaeological Excavation class in 2006 at the San Francisco Presidio.

Her career goal is to use her archaeology degree in helping preserve California’s cultural resources through Cultural Resource Management Companies. The former high school varsity volleyball captain and MVP, is a transfer student from Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. She made Provost Honors her first quarter at UCSD with a 4.0 GPA.

Dewei Chen

Dewei deeply admires the remarkable advances made by biotechnology in curing disease.  It serves as his motivation for pursuing a career in the research and development industry where he hopes to design medical devices for the treatment of disease.  He emigrated to the U.S. from China and had attended a community college prior to transferring to UCSD.  He volunteers 4 hours a week at UCSD Medical Center’s Emergency Department and is active in the United Taiwanese Association, Revelle College’s One on One Mentor Program, and in the Biomedical Engineering Society.

Michael Conte

Michael believes that he possesses the compassion, intellect and determination to be a great doctor.  He credits his involvement in AMSA volunteer activities (a club for pre-med students) including building a home for a Mexican family in Tijuana, local beach clean-ups and playing basketball with children from abusive backgrounds for developing the maturity and social consciousness needed to become a successful health care provider.  He is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Peggy Leung

Peggy is a first generation college student born to Chinese immigrants.  Her extracurricular activities include serving on the Saltman Quarterly Review Board and the Warren Student Council Event Board.  She currently shadows both Dr. Levi, an ophthalmologist in clinics, and Dr. Stahl, a cardio-thoracic surgeon.  Peggy is actively involved as a volunteer with the Physics of Toys Exploratorium, as a mentor with the Pulitzer Mentoring Program in Art and College Prep,  and with Unite for Sight, a non-profit clinic that caters to pediatric disabilities.

Siobhan Lozada

Siobhan was raised by a single mother, often living with family or friends when money was scarce.  The transfer student from City College always found schools a refuge from their unfortunate circumstances.    A talented photographer and sculptor, she presented her photographs of Cuba at the Photography Exposition at UCSD in 2006—skills she hopes to incorporate into writing features about international law and human rights.   For the past two years she has volunteered with Human Rights:  Border Angels, stationing water, food and clothing in the San Diego deserts to prevent immigrant deaths from over-heating and exhaustion.

Quennie Zhu

Queenie’s position as a teaching assistant in a psychology statistics course has been the most enjoyable and rewarding experience at UCSD—so much so that it inspired her to pursue a career in teaching.  She was awarded a LEAD Intern Award for her leadership, engagement, activism and development at UCSD, and the Stillthoughts Volunteer Award for her participation in community service projects and events.  She tutored for Preuss School and is involved in the Pulitzer Prize after school Program for at-risk children in San Diego County.

Nathan Carlton -- Waxman Scholar

Nathan’s goal is to earn a DVM and practice livestock medicine or small animal medicine in California.  He is currently serving as an intern at the Animal Hospital in La Jolla.  He is a former Marine who was honorably discharged in October from active duty and currently serves on the Inactive Ready Reserve. 

He earned the rank of Sgt. during his five years of service and is most proud of a Physical Fitness Award earned for outstanding performance in a military physical fitness test and a Meritorious Mast earned for his work with the Toys for Tots.

Emmanuel Castaneda -- Walsh/Chacon/Malone Scholar

Emmanuel is a first generation Latino male and the only one of his 3 siblings to attend college.  His parents are immigrants from Mexico.  He has received Provost’s Honors 3 of the 5 quarters at UCSD while working in a part-time job.  He is actively involved in campus life with service on the Warren College Events Board, membership in the Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity, and as an executive board member of the multi-cultural Greek Council.

Juhi Dudani -- Marchick/Rallo Scholar

Juhi, a former high school valedictorian, considers UCSD as her greatest academic achievement.  For the past 6 years she has participated as the captain on a dance team that competes on a national level.  She is also a current member of the UCSD dance team where she is team historian.  Juhi is an intern in the Marshall Dean’s office, a member of the National Resident Hall Honorary, co-chair of S.C.O.R.E. (Student Committee on Residential Enhancement), and a college orientation leader. She hopes to one day run her own business.

Charles Erwin -- Brutten Scholar

Charles was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November of 2006.  He has also been the primary caretaker of his ailing and amputee grandmother since 2003.  He thinks that these personal challenges only strengthen his character and endurance.  Charles has earned an almost perfect academic record since enrolling at UCSD, and his yearlong honors thesis, under the sponsorship of a faculty member, led him to work with the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego--a position unprecedented for an undergraduate.  His primary goal is to become a teacher and to pursue new methods of understanding and discovery.

Achraf Farraj -- Brutten Scholar

Achraf has received the Provost’s Honors for 4 quarters, and is recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, the Friends of the International Center Award, and the California Governor’s Scholar’s Award.

Emmanuel Castaneda -- Walsh/Chacon/Malone Scholar

Emmanuel is a first generation Latino male and the only one of his 3 siblings to attend college.  His parents are immigrants from Mexico.  He has received Provost’s Honors 3 of the 5 quarters at UCSD while working in a part-time job.  He is actively involved in campus life with service on the Warren College Events Board, membership in the Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity, and as an executive board member of the multi-cultural Greek Council.

Tricia Frazier -- Hart Scholar

Tricia is the first in her family to attend college and hopes that she will serve as an inspiration to her younger siblings.  Following high school, she spent a period of time homeless and without direction.  To pursue her childhood dream of expressing herself through dance and movement, she entered college full time. While attending City College of San Francisco, she was president of the Cheer and Dance Club, and cheer captain for the Cheer and Dance Team for two years.

Yvonne Hsiung -- Moraghan Scholar

As a LEAD intern at UCSD, the former ASB president and Marshall College Student Council member actively promoted social justice and cross-cultural interaction. As a staff member of One Earth One Justice, she provided organizational and leadership skills to organizations devoted to economic sustainability and social justice.  She plans to use these skills to ultimately work as a Public Relations Officer for a global humanitarian corporation.

Julia Ma -- Bay Area Scholar

Julia is a graduate of Lowell High School in San Francisco and the daughter of immigrant parents born in China.  For six years she has been a member of the San Francisco Gu-Zheng Music Society where she plays the gu-zheng, an ancient Chinese instrument, at community events.  She is fluent in three different dialects in Chinese.  At UCSD she is the service coordinator for the American Red Cross, volunteering at marathons, blood drives and the annual Red Cross CPR events.  She is also a member of the Volunteer’s Club, participating in beach clean-ups, tutoring at elementary schools, and work with low-income and homeless families.

Jennifer Merryman -- Palisoul Scholar

Jennifer worked as a legal secretary for several years before enrolling at Southwestern Community College.  The transfer student and mother of two small children finds balancing motherhood and college an emotional and financial struggle but one she is grateful for.  She has been involved with Kathy’s House, a service center for HIV patients, served as a student governor for the School of Business and Communication, as a volunteer with the Volunteer Lawyer’s Program/AIDS clinic, the Domestic Violence Clinic and the Legal Aid’s Immigration Clinic.

Allen Ho -- Dottie Conway Scholar

Allen was one of twelve students admitted into the UCSD Medical Scholars Program. His extracurricular interest is international health.  He is a volunteer with Healing Hearts across Borders, a medical missionary organization that unites American medical personnel in bringing quality medical care to Mexico, and is Campus Director for Project Nicaragua where he has worked to form collaborations with the International Neurosurgical Children’s Association in bringing supplies and training expeditions to the region. 

Sonia Shakib -- Cambon Scholar

Sonia was born in Iran and at the age of seven moved to the States to escape the Muslim regime of Jewish persecution.  While a junior college student, she led two student-based groups that promoted Jewish awareness on campus and was awarded the Leadership Recognition Award for her involvement.  She has applied for a position of Orientation Leader with Muir College and is an active member of JOPA (Jewish Organization of Persians and Americans) on the UCSD campus.

Kevin Staight -- Lehrer Scholar

Kevin is not a traditional college student.  He entered the Marine Corps following high school where he achieved the rank of corporal and commanded a 12-man squad.  A transfer student from Palomar College, Kevin has become involved in CALPIRG, gymnastics, and dance competition, ERC TV, the Ballroom Dance Club and Show Team since enrolling at UCSD.  His military service throughout the Middle and Far East has inspired him to become proficient in 3 foreign languages before he graduates.  He hopes to become proficient in Arabic in the study abroad program in Cairo.

Helen Chan -- Fitzmaurice Scholar

Helen lived in the city of Rangoon, Burma until the age of 7.  She and her sister are being supported by their immigrant mother who is a maid.  Helen is the recipient of Provost’s Honors since 2004, and a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.  Her extracurricular involvement includes membership in the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre medical Honor Society and the Biological Sciences Student Association.  For the past 2 years, she has volunteered as a tutor for the Pulitzer Mentoring Program which is aimed at exposing low income youths to various aspects of art and creative expression.  She also volunteers as a college prep co-director, introducing low income youths to the college process.