Celebrating UCR’s Class of 2025

At any given time, our camera rolls are packed with tons of photos. So, when we asked students from UC Riverside’s Class of 2025 to look back at their photo galleries and find memorable moments captured during their entire university journey, we knew we were asking a lot of them.

But, goodness, it was so worth it.

Graduating seniors sent pictures of beloved campus donkeys, in-between-class car naps, life in the dorms, donning lab coats for the first time, and early campus friendships and romances. Some photos showed them in face masks, a reminder that many started their first year of college at the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now the face masks are off, and the caps and gowns are on. But before they cross the commencement stage and receive their well-earned degrees, we asked them to share their true Highlander experiences — the ups and the downs.

Allison Wang | CHASS | B.A. - Political Science

“My favorite and most impactful class was ‘Pandemic Politics’ with Dr. Kim Yi Dionne during my first quarter at UCR. It would eventually lead to an invitation to join Dr. Dionne’s lab and to my first job in college.”

Alyssa Brand | CNAS | B.S. - Neuroscience

“I became a Pre-Professional Advising Center pre-health ambassador and have made so many amazing friends in the same field as me. I also get to support other students who have been in my shoes. It is so fulfilling and inspiring.”

Anser Qazi | SOM | Ph.D. - Internal Medicine

“As COVID hit in March 2020, I had to wrap up the MCAT, find a job to support my family, and then commute to El Segundo every day for a year. While waiting for medical school admission results, I had a moment where I was not sure if I was going to be able to follow through in my dreams to becoming a doctor.”

Carlos Lopez | CNAS | B.S. - Mathematics for Secondary School Teaching

“One thing I got right at UCR was becoming more social. As a result, I have had the honor of calling so many great people my friends. Without them, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.”

Diane Zhao | CNAS | B.S. - Biology

“One thing that I got right at UCR was joining The Well. It provided me with a strong foundation, along with a whole new circle of life-long friendships. Shout-out to Heidy, Dr. Connie Marmolejo, Daniel, and all my current and past co-workers.”

Emily Martinez | CHASS | B.A. - History/Law & Society, Spanish

“My favorite social experience was the friends I made in my first year while living in the dorms. They opened my social life and have remained friends with me throughout my college experience.”

Hannah Chu | CNAS | B.S. - Entomology

"Being able to participate in the Riverside Insect Fair was not only a learning experience, but I also felt like I was able to connect with the broader community.”

Jennifer Amador | CHASS | B.A. - Psychology, Global Studies

“My favorite academic experience at UCR was participating in the McNair Scholars Program's inaugural cohort. I gained valuable insights into Hispanic-serving institutions and programs that support first-generation students. I’m grateful for the guidance of Dr. Arlene Cano Matute and Dr. Diamond Bravo.”

Kellsie Pham-Nguyen | SOE | B.A. - Education Human Development and Society; Psychology

“My favorite career experience at UCR was working as a camp counselor for Camp Highlander, where I led youth ages 9-11 through eight weeks of programming in the summer. Despite the long days, it was incredibly rewarding to watch the kids grow in confidence, curiosity, and connection.”

Madison Juliana Oliva | CNAS | B.S. - Mathematics

“Competing in UCR’s hackathons, like CutieHacks, Rose Hacks, and CitrusHacks, was my favorite social experience. I learned new software/programming languages, made a lot of friends, and met people in the industry. My teammates and I won awards for 24 hours straight of coding, which brought us closer.”

Minor Jared Garcia Hernandez | CHASS | B.A. - Political Science

“One of my most difficult academic experiences at UCR was managing my coursework while navigating serious family challenges, including my father’s health issues and my mother taking on multiple responsibilities. Balancing school with personal hardships pushed me to my limits, but it also taught me resilience and strengthened my commitment to my goals.”

Paloma Avila | SPP | M.A. - Public Policy

“In my final year of graduate school, in January 2025, my family and I lost our home in the Eaton Fire. Amid this crisis, my professors and academic advisor, Jolene, were among the first to step in and support me by securing emergency financial assistance, offering childcare, and even providing groceries, books, and clothing. Their compassion carried me through an incredibly difficult time and made it possible for me to stay in school and graduate on time.”

Rachel Strausman | SPP | M.A. - Public Policy

“Participating in the UCDC program last summer was my favorite career experience. It was such an amazing opportunity to intern at the House of Representatives and meet other UC students. We got to explore D.C. and New York all summer and learn so much about the workings of Congress. Now I can’t wait to move to D.C. after I finish grad school.”

Reyna Quinonez | CNAS | B.S. - Mathematics

“My favorite career experience was joining PERSIST. That fellowship no longer exists, but it's thanks to that fellowship that I was able to pursue research and was encouraged to apply and become a MARC trainee.”

Shrutisri Sonekar | CHASS | B.A. - Psychology

“I started a week-long mental health awareness initiative called ‘Mindful Eras,’ which was a success and is now a campus-wide annual event that The Well holds.”

Stephanie Chuquipul Calderón | SPP | B.A. - Public Policy

"A difficult social experience at UCR was when I was grieving the loss of my dog, which made it hard to feel fully present around others. During that time, my anxiety made crowded spaces feel overwhelming, and I often found myself needing more alone time."