Jacqueline Balderrama,Creative Writing
Ina Coolbrith Memorial Poetry Prize First Place Recipient - $500 Award
This UC-wide contest is open to undergraduate students. Submissions are reviewed by members of the UCSC faculty; three poems from the total entries are forwarded to the UC-wide review committee for final selection.
Jaqueline Balderrama completed her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing with a minor in Religious Studies in winter 2013. Her poetry has been presented in the 2011 annual Tomas Rivera Conference, and has a forthcoming publication in Solo Novo. She has also interned with the Riverside Art Museum (2011) and has shown her own artwork in UCR's Phyllis Gill Gallery (2013). In spring 2012, Jaqueline completed her University Honors thesis titled "Escaping the Habitat: A Collection of Poetry" under the mentorship of Poet Laureate, Professor Juan Felipe Herrera. She continues to conduct research under his guidance. Furthermore, Jacqueline was a staff writer for UCR's Highlander newspaper (2011-2013), and is the recipient of a Gluck Fellowship in which she organizes open mics and other art-related, community outreach events. Most recently, she served as Co-Editor-In-Chief for Mosaic, UCR's undergraduate art and literary journal, and received an Academic Excellence Award in Creative Writing (2013). Jaqueline will be pursuing an MFA in poetry next fall at Arizona State University.

Andrew Carlson, Chemistry
American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry
The award is intended to recognize senior students who display a significant aptitude for organic chemistry and to encourage further interest in the field.
Andrew is a senior in the Department of Chemistry. Andrew's commitment and promise as a researcher in Chemistry led to his selection as UCR's recipient of the American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry's Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry for 2013. Andrew is completing his research on novel luciferins in the laboratory of Prof. Michael Pirrung and will be enrolling in graduate school at UCLA in Fall 2014.

Javier Fajardo, Chemistry and Physics
Pfizer Academic - Industrial Relations (AIR) Diversity Research Fellowship in Chemistry - $15,000 fellowship for research at the candidate's home institution.
The AIR Diversity Research Fellowship supports minority chemistry majors who are motivated and interested in gaining experience in disciplines conducive to drug discovery. Selected candidates are assigned to work in an academic laboratory in one of the following areas: synthetic organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, crystallography, computational chemistry or structural biology under a professor' supervision.
American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry
The purpose of this award is to recognize achievement by undergraduate students in inorganic chemistry and to encourage further study in the field. The recipient will have demonstrated excellence in inorganic chemistry at the undergraduate level based on any combination of research, coursework, and /or motivation / interest / dedication.
Javier is a senior majoring in Chemistry and Physics. He is a member of member of Golden Key Honour Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. As a part of the AIR fellowship, Javier will be visiting the Pfizer site in La Jolla where he will present his research and tour the facility. This fellowship will fund the research that Javier is conducting with Dr. Vincent Lavallo.

Corey Luth, Chemical Engineering
American Chemical Society's Division of Environmental Chemistry 2013 Undergraduate Award Recipient - The award consists of a one year membership in the American Chemical Society's Division of Environmental Chemistry and a certificate.
The American Chemical Society's Division of Environmental Chemistry award recognizes outstanding undergraduate researchers, and is given to only 25 students nationally each year.
Corey Luth is a junior majoring in Chemical Engineering. His goal is to pursue a graduate degree in the field of environmental/chemical engineering. In addition to research, Corey is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, University Honors, and also serves as a part time referee for a local lacrosse league. Under the guidance Dr. Sharon Walker, in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Corey investigates the fate and transport of various engineered nanomaterials released into aquatic environments. This work is part of a collaboration between Dr. Walker and the Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechology (CEIN), a NSF and EPA funded research center dedicated to ensuring responsible use and disposal of nanoparticles. Corey was the second author on a paper that was recently published in a leading environmental engineering journal (Lanphere, J.; Luth, C.; Walker, S. Effects of Solution Chemistry on the Fate and Transport of Graphene Oxide in Saturated Porous Media. Environmental Science & Technology).

Fatima Mirza, Creative Writing
Accepted to the University of Iowa's Writers Workshop
The University of Iowa's program in Creative Writing, known worldwide as the Iowa Writers Workshop, was founded in 1936 with the gathering together of writers from the poetry and fiction workshops. It was the first creative writing program in the country, and it became the prototype for more than 300 writing programs, many of which were founded by Workshop alumni. The Workshop remains the most prestigious creative writing program in the country and one of the most selective graduate programs of any kind, typically admitting fewer than five percent of its applicants.
Fatima Mirza is a senior majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Journalism. As an undergraduate she has served as an Assistant Editor and Features Editor for The Highlander and has published in the Mosaic, UCR's undergraduate art and literary journal. Fatima was a member of University Honors and served as a Peer Mentor. As an undergraduate she received numerous scholarships and awards including the 2011, 2012 Award for Academic Excellence. Ms. Mirza is engaging with writing communities beyond the university, in summer 2012 she was accepted to and participated in the Squaw Valley Community of Writers Conference. She received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research/Creative Achievement in 2013.

Mary Nguyen, Chemistry
Barry Goldwater Scholarship Recipient - $7,500 Award
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Program was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering and to foster excellence in those fields. In awarding scholarships, the Foundation Board of Trustees will consider the nominee's field of study and career objectives and the extent to which that individual has the commitment and potential to make a significant contribution to his or her field
Mary Nguyen is a junior majoring in Chemistry. Her goal is to pursue a Ph.D. In addition to research, Mary is a Math Academic Coach and Student Leader for the Medical Scholars Program, a CNAS Science Ambassador, a University Honors student, and a passionate violinist and pianist. Mary conducts research primarily under the guidance of Dr. Catharine Larsen, in the Department of Chemistry.

Akhil Rao, Finance
Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs Recipient 2013-2014
The Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs is a full-time, nine month, graduate-level experiential leadership training program that prepares diverse, talented and committed individuals for effective and ethical leadership in the public affairs arena.
Akhil Rao graduated from the School of Business Administration in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a minor in Economics. His long term goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics with a research focus on policy-relevant issues around education, entrepreneurship, and the interaction of private and state agents. As an undergraduate he worked as a Reader for the Departments of Economics and Political Science, in addition to serving as a Program Coordinator, Resident Advisor, and Assistant Resident Director in Housing at UCR. Akhil also participated in education abroad programs that allowed him to expand his academics. He studied Global Enterprise Management at the University of Oxford in Spring 2011, and in the summer of 2012 he studied Chinese Economy and Chinese Foreign Policy at Peking University in Beijing. He is a member of Golden Key International Honour Society and graduated Cum Laude. In September 2013 he will begin the Coro Fellowship.

Katherine Tsai, Biology
Donald Strauss Scholarship Recipient - $10,000 Award to start the UCR Mini Medical School
Donald A. Strauss Public Service scholarship Foundation Scholarship recognizes juniors who demonstrate a commitment to public service and education. The Foundation annually awards $10,000 scholarships to no fewer than 14 California college juniors reflect a similar commitment.
Katherine Tsai is a junior majoring in Biology. Her goal is to pursue an M.D. In addition to research, Katherine is President of Flying Samaritans, an SI Leader in the Academic Resource Center, a University Honors Student, and a Peer Mentor in the Health Professions Advising Center. Katherine will work on the UCR Mini Medical School project under the mentorship of Dr. Emma Simmons.

Krystal Vasquez, Chemistry
American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry - The award consists of an 8-month subscription (16 issues) to the journal Analytical Chemistry and a certificate of recognition.
Recipients of this award are undergraduates who excel in the area of analytical chemistry, and demonstrate great potential as a future analytical chemist.
Krystal is a sophomore majoring in Chemistry. In addition to research, Krystal is a University Honors student and serves as the Opinions Editor for the University Honors newsletter, Honors Outlook!