2021 Presentation Awards

2021 Top Honors Winners

Biological Sciences

• Alexander Del Toro, UC Merced
• RJ Millena, UC Davis 
• Pedro Valencia Landa, UC Merced

Engineering & Computer Sciences

• Robert Bloom, UC Irvine 
• Eduardo Montano, UC Irvine
• Xavier Perez, UC San Diego 

Physical Sciences & Mathematics

• Luke Elissiry, UC Los Angeles
• Garrett Kukier, UC Los Angeles
• Lorraine Nicholson, UC Los Angeles

2021 Honorable Mentions

Biological Sciences

• Tessa Chou, UC Santa Barbara
• Noah Gaitan, UC San Diego
• Andy Nguyen, UC Los Angeles

Engineering & Computer Sciences

• Emily Barragan, UC Irvine
• Justin Burzachiello, UC Riverside
• Michele Campbell, UC Merced 

Physical Sciences & Mathematics

• Giovanni Lara, UC Davis 
• Jose Magana, UC Berkeley
• Verenise Martinez Lopez, UC Santa Cruz

Graduate Deans’ Leadership Award

The Graduate Deans’ Leadership Award was given to three scholars who exhibited extraordinary leadership during their tenure as UC LEADS scholars. This award was selected by the UC LEADS Executive Steering Committee, and funded by the deans of all 10 UC Graduate Divisions. Graduate Deans’ Leadership Awards went to:

• Diana Cruz Garcia, UC Merced
• Shahira Ellaboudy, UC Santa Barbara
• Jose Magana, UC Berkeley

Nominees and recipients of the Campus Leadership Awards were:

• Kelly Chau (UCD)
• Jorge Mendoza (UCI)
• Luke Elissiry (UCLA)
• Arthor Bernal (UCR)
• Xavier Perez (UCSD)
• Verenise Martinez (UCSC)