First in Innovation & Inclusion
“I wasn't the first one in my family to decide to go to college - I was the first one who had the opportunity.”
Choukri Wyatt
UCLA Senior
UCLA Senior
Affinity/First Gen Alumni Network
UCLA is home to the first and only First Generation Alumni Network in the UC System.
Established in 2017, the UCLA First Gen Network is part of a broader UC and campus-wide initiative to help first generation students make a successful transition to college life, achieve greater success and raise the visibility of first-generation alumni.
- UCLA’s First Gen Network serves alumni from all backgrounds and ethnicities who are the first in their family (defined as including parents and siblings) to attend and graduate from a four-year university in the United States.
- Network events and programs unite first-generation students and alumni for social engagement, mentoring, professional development, scholarship/philanthropy and civic engagement.
- UCLA's First Gen Network was recognized this year with a Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence Gold Award.
To date, 4,213 alumni identify as first-gen. If you’re a first generation graduate and would like to get involved with the network, please contact FirstGen@alumni.ucla.edu.
Uniting Bruin Parents
UCLA Parent Council's Emeriti unites parents beyond the four-year plan, and is among the first in the country to reengage parents of university alumni.
- The UCLA Parents’ Council Emeriti was established in 2017 with the partnership of two enthusiastic former Parents’ Council members, Gail Aspinwall, Parent ’11 ’16 and Kent Chiu, Parent ’11 ’14 ’16.
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New Emeriti added to their ranks with the 2019 graduates.
- The network hosted events to socialize and explore Los Angeles.
- They established the Parents’ Council Emeriti Scholarship. The first recipient will be selected for the 2020-21 academic year.
- Two leadership positions, activities chair and scholarship chair, were created.
UCLA Mixed Alumni Association
Founded in 2015, the UCLA Mixed Alumni Association is the first and only alumni association of its kind in the country.
The UCLA Mixed Alumni Association provides a space for UCLA alumni, their families, future alumni and the UCLA community to share their experiences, and explore and celebrate mixed heritage identity.
- The mission of the UCLA Mixed Alumni Association is to build, support and strengthen a community built around mixed heritage identity.
- Our Association is open to all alumni and friends of UCLA. To learn more or to get involved, contact us at: mixed@alumni.ucla.edu.
Empowering Others: Diversity & Success
Diversity & Success is a new career series led by Partnership UCLA/Alumni Career Programs in partnership with a number of student-led organizations.
- The program is focused on connecting underrepresented students with diverse alumni in popular industries to create stronger hiring pathways.
- Students meet with alumni from a wide variety of fields for roundtable and panel events including entertainment, government, law, media, nonprofit and sports.
“Diversity & Success exposed to me my own potential within the business world and inspired me to have bigger aspirations. It also exposed me to successful people who look like me and have similar backgrounds, which motivated me to reshape my current career goals. This program provided exposure to diverse thought and emphasized how critical it is for success within the workplace.”
Amal Fahmi ’19, sociology
Amal Fahmi ’19, sociology
High Impact Programming
Alumni Day: Kickoff to Centennial
On Saturday, May 18, 2019, Alumni Day marked the official launch of a yearlong celebration of UCLA’s first 100 years.
The excitement was palpable. Timely speakers, engaging discussions, enlightening tours and unique opportunities to network across communities were the hallmarks of this celebration of UCLA’s history.
The excitement was palpable. Timely speakers, engaging discussions, enlightening tours and unique opportunities to network across communities were the hallmarks of this celebration of UCLA’s history.
- Nearly 4,000 alumni and friends returned to Westwood to reconnect with the familiar and explore all that is new.
- 37 campus partners hosted 121 activities in 47 locations.
- Alumni Day raised a record-breaking number of sponsorship dollars for a single event, ($55,000). Sponsors engaged attendees by tabling, providing giveaways and hosting receptions.
88%
of survey respondents rated Alumni Day as “good” or “great.”
91%
of survey respondents indicated that they would attend an Alumni Day in the future and 81% said that they would bring a friend.
Daily Bruin Forum: A Conversation on Trump, 2020 and the Political Divide
engaged alumni in a discourse about a topic of national interest with two experts in the field – Matea Gold ‘96, Political Enterprise & Investigations Editor for The Washington Post, and UCLA Professor of Public Policy Mark Peterson.
A Conversation Amongst Chancellors
brought Gene Block, Albert Carnesale and Charles E. Young, the three chancellors who have shaped UCLA since 1968, together on one stage to discuss topics ranging from diversity to athletics to free speech.
UCLA and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement
looked at UCLA’s history with the Olympic Games and at its upcoming role in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics.
2nd Act
The 2nd Act provides an empowering space which identifies and addresses the unique issues of Bruins over 50 with truth and inspiration.
- The 2nd Act offers opportunities for more than 250,000 alumni to engage and learn, optimize health, volunteer and invest in themselves.
- Topics have covered successful aging, starting new and different life chapters and dispelling popular perceptions on what aging means.
- More than 400 Bruins attended four hosted events, averaging more than 100 attendees per session.
- "Unlocking Your Inner TED" gave guests access to TED organizers and speakers who offered advice on all aspects of how to take the TED stage.
- "So You Want to Write a Book" helped attendees move past the hurdle of wanting to write a book by giving them tangible tools to turn a wish into a reality.
- "Live from New York with Linda Lehrer!" challenged the myths many harbor about what people in their 2nd Act can and cannot do.
- "Demystifying Start-ups: How to Get into Tech" featured Mark Kapczynski ‘93, a UCLA start-up evangelist whose mission is guiding those limiting themselves into a more techno-agile mindset.
UCLA Awards
UCLA Alumni Awards celebrates the accomplishments and impact of truly remarkable Bruin leaders and volunteers.
Since 1946, UCLA has paid tribute to its most distinguished luminaries. From larger-than-life legends to community heroes, UCLA awards are bestowed upon Bruins who have brought great honor to the university and whose contributions impact the world.
Since 1946, UCLA has paid tribute to its most distinguished luminaries. From larger-than-life legends to community heroes, UCLA awards are bestowed upon Bruins who have brought great honor to the university and whose contributions impact the world.
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Nominations were reviewed by the Awards Committee.
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Guests gathered to celebrate seven legendary icons and community leaders as UCLA’s best, brightest and most inspirational.
- Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year Award: MO OSTIN ’51
- UCLA Award for Professional Achievement: VALORIE KONDOS FIELD ’87
- UCLA Award for Young Alumnus of the Year: KATYA B. DANIEL ’08
- UCLA Award for Public Service: WILLIAM “RUSTY” BAILEY, III, M.P.P. ’99
- UCLA Award for Community Service: ROXANA DUEÑAS, M.ED. ’09
- UCLA Award for Alumni Volunteer of the Year: STEPHANIE BROWN ’85
- UCLA Award for Network of the Year: UCLA LATINO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
- Learn more about our 2019 Award Recipients https://alumni.ucla.edu/awards
