Dean Jon Gould, far right, congratulates some of this year's student award recipients. Photos by Han Parker
Social Ecology Honors & Awards winners for 2022-23
The School of Social Ecology’s 2022-23 Honors and Awards recipients were recognized during an intimate event on a warm June 14 afternoon at the Antrepreneur Center.
Recognized were those who would be graduating with bachelor’s degrees a few days later as well as some underclassmen who will be returning in the fall.
But before the congratulating began, Dean Jon Gould asked the assembled honorees to applaud the parents, other family members and friends who accompanied them to the event and have supported their educational journeys. Gould later led the students in a rousing chant of “Zot! Zot! Zot!”
Two Social Ecology faculty members were on the receiving end of honors from students. Brandon Golob has the enviable job of having to create space on his mantle, as the associate professor of criminology, law and society was voted Professor of the Year for the third year in a row by Social Ecology students. He thanked the students and said he was humbled by the award. Meanwhile, in a more informal gesture, multiple students presented bouquets of flowers to Hillary Berk, an associate professor in teaching criminology, law and society, for her birthday. Voted Professor of the Year in 2019 and nominated three times for teaching awards this year, Berk apologized for having to leave the awards event early as she was already late to the birthday celebration her family was throwing her.
As for student honorees, the Dean’s Scholar Award, which is reserved for the two highest achieving undergraduates in Social Ecology and comes with a $500 cash prize, recognizes academic achievements, research and teaching experience, on and off campus involvement and community engagement.
This year’s recipients were two new graduates:
- Cynthia Márquez, a Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation research assistant, Social Ecology Dean’s Ambassador Council member and undergraduate research assistant, who earned B.A. degrees in social policy & public service and urban studies and
- Ivanna Zuniga, a UCI University Studies discussion leader and mentor who interned at Children’s Hospital of Orange County’s Early Development Assessment Center and received a B.A. in psychological science with a criminology, law & society minor.
The Law Offices of Adrienne D. Cohen Excellence in Field Study award is named after the firm with offices in Irvine and Novato and whose namesake and founder has taught UCI paralegal students in the areas of legal ethics and legal writing. This year’s award recipient is Hana Nip, a research assistant in labs led by associate professors of psychological science: Alyson Zalta’s Trauma and Resilience Lab and Oliver Sng’s Evolution, Culture, and Stereotyping Lab. Nip intends to graduate in June 2024 with a B.A. in psychological science.
The Dean’s Award for Exceptional Achievement in Field Study was presented to Clara Ju, who was also recognized for Excellence in Field Study. Unique to the School of Social Ecology, field study encourages students to get out in the community and contribute to society as a volunteer or intern.
Advanced Field Study is an in-depth, three-quarter long experience primarily focused on addressing issues in the community through civic engagement. The 2023 Advanced Field Study Program graduates are:
Malini Arora- Brooklyn Bermudez
- Evgeniya Bozhko
- Amanda Chanas
- Nikki Chen
- Anelise Galen
- Yesenia Garcia
- Haide Gutierrez
- Anna Marie Hibbard
- Kamile Lengvyte
- Miranda McManus
- Laura Oreno
- Hana Nip
- Judith Ocegueda
- Dayana Ortega
- Luis Soto-Martinez
- Jacquelin Vargas
- Nick Wolf
- Nathan Zhang
Besides Clara Ju, the students who were awarded for Excellence in Field Study – meaning they went above and beyond in their placements or completed an exceptional academic project as part of field study – are:
- Miko Aichi
- Vivian Barrera
- Sarah Block
- Elena Bock
- Katherine Chumley
- Aryel Coats
- Tiffany Cross
- Emili D'Amico
- Zhu Ye Deng
- Jannelle Diaz
- Jasmine Esquivel
- Andrea Garcia Valencia
- Hae Gim
- Marilyn Guerrero Manzanet
- Denise Guevara
- Julissa Gutierrez
- Jackson Houser
- Angelo Huang
- Peter Lee
- Angelu Lesaca
- Sarah Loranger
- Samantha McCarthy
- Laura Moreno Pulido
- Britney Nguyen
- Michelle Ortega
- Micah Paulk
- Celia Pedro
- Rachel Peterson
- Emma Phan
- Audrey Song
- Halli Stewart
- Destiny Tellez-Araiza
- Hannah Tram
- Precious Valencia
- Abigail Voigt
- Emma Rosandich
Exceptional Achievement in Undergraduate Research awards honor students who are extraordinary or meritorious in a way that goes beyond expectations in doing research. They excel in either assisting you with your research, or in leading their own research projects. Many of these students have performed honors research, served as research assistants, presented at UROP and national conferences, and have received various fellowships. For 2022-23, they are:
Harlin Advincula- Jasmine Carwell
- Manar Dawood
- Kristin Garcia
- Julissa Gutierrez
- Angela Howe
- Angela Huh
- Peter Ju
- Zoe Kirkland
- Madeline Koning
- Sara Leon
- Giovanni Longino
- Sarah Loranger
- Cynthia Marquez
- Flynn McGrath
- Amalia Navarro
- Karen Parra
- Celia Pedro
- Eric Pena
- Emma Rosandich
- Victoria Sanchez
- Julia Smith
- Abigail Stutzel
- Destiny Tellez-Araiza
- Adamary Velazquez Escobar
- Rui Wang
- Anna Witney
- Tyler Wong
The Social Ecology Honors Program award goes to students who are completing a year-long honors program or in-depth research project. They often present their research project at UROP. These students for 2022-23 are:
- Angela Boatwright
- Hali Boyce
- Dianna Chang
- Emili D’Amico
- Ashley Heltzel
- Caitlin Heslin
- Angela Huh
- Kayla Hung
- Giovanni Longino
- Flynn McGrath
- Kylee Ocampo
- Karen Parra
- Cloe Ploessl
- Tiffani Pope
- Jira Trinetkamol
- Johnny Vu
- Eeron Wilson
Special Recognition for Multi-disciplinary Achievement is reserved for students who have made contribution to the School of Social Ecology in general, or specifically to an individual class, organization, or research project. They are:
Keri Albers- Michelle Avedisian
- Reese Butorovich
- Maryam Dalati
- Zachary Griggy
- Anna Hibbard
- Sukhjot Kooner
- Megan Kosai
- Fanny Lao
- Cynthia Marquez
- Micah Paulk
- Victoria Sanchez
- Makayla Shapiro
- Halli Stewart
- Kylie Yeatman
- Tara Zandi
Outstanding Contribution to the Community is given to students who engage in any research project or activity that benefits the community at large. These students, acknowledged for their dedicated service to the community, are:
- Jakob Fierro
- Cynthia Marquez
- Micah Paulk
- Victoria Sanchez
- Halli Stewart
Finally, the Outstanding Contribution to the School of Social Ecology is bestowed for meritorious work done by a student that either benefits the school directly or promotes the school either on or off campus. The range of service by these students varies from being a peer advisor, an administrative intern, a learning assistant, a mentor or more. Being recognized for their great service and leadership as well as commitment and contributions to our school are:
Adamary Velazquez Escobar- Aleny Aguilar
- Katelyn Aoki
- Julia Bogdan
- Reese Butorovich
- Yuran Chen
- Tiffany Clarke
- Abdon Danting
- Evelyn Delgado
- Jocelyn Figueroa
- Chloe Ford
- Kenny Funes
- Calli Genest
- Gerdim Gomez
- Cindy Guan
- Leslie Hernandez
- Anna Hibbard
- Marian Ibraheam
- Jaecyn Knickerbocker
- Terence Lee
- Samantha Lim
- Kaitlyn McGee
- Tania Melgarejo
- Melissa Montoya
- Natalya Muro
- Kaitlynn Nguyen
- Irania Ochoa Serrano
- Phoebe Pham
- Paulina Pizano-Pintor
- Lizette Pompa
- Alannha Sanchez
- Makayla Shapiro
- Susannah Spengler
- Johnny Vu
- McGyver Ye
- Tsuf Zait-Givon
- Ivanna Zuniga
Congratulations, all!