“ZOT, ZOT, ZOT!” 

The anteater rally cry reverberated through the Bren Events Center on June 12 as social sciences dean Barbara Dosher led undergrads in their final cheer before becoming official UCI alumni. 

Part of the 45th annual commencement exercises, the social sciences undergrads, along with their families and friends, celebrated in two separate but equally festive ceremonies, the first of which included the school’s 14 graduating Demographic and Social Analysis graduate students.  The week prior, doctoral students from social sciences were recognized in a traditional graduate hooding ceremony.  The school also held its 28th annual Order of Merit celebration on June 12 to recognize outstanding undergrads and graduate students for excellence in scholarship, research, service and leadership.  Check out pictures from all three ceremonies and a full listing of awards below.

In total, more than 2700 social sciences students received degrees, pushing the school’s alumni count to more than 33,000 anteaters strong. 

Congratulations to all 2010 graduates – we hope to continue seeing you around campus as active alumni!

Social Sciences Commencement Photos

• Graduate Commencement Ceremony photos
• Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 1 photos
• Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony 2 photos
• Order of Merit photos

For students interested in ordering images from any of the graduation ceremonies, please visit www.gradimages.com for a searchable database by student name.

Social Sciences Graduate Student School Award Recipients  

• Christopher Marcum, Outstanding Graduate Student Service
• Amy C. Alexander, Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship
• Scott Byrd, Kathy Alberti Award
• Chris Stout, 2009-2010 Lauds & Laurels Recipient and Outstanding Graduate Student
• Lauren O’Reilly, Demographic & Social Analysis Outstanding MA Student
• Fatima Z. Rahman, A. Kimball Romney Award for Outstanding Graduate Research Paper
    

Social Sciences Undergraduate Student School Award and Scholarship Recipients

• Jacqueline Wu, Alice B. Macy Outstanding Undergraduate Paper Award
• Jennifer Sun and Nancy Kim, David Rosten International Education & Service Scholarship
• Curtis Brown, Elena B. & William R. Schonfeld Scholarship
• Daniel Bibona, Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award
• Lauren Collins, Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award 
• Eric Helms, Outstanding Transfer Student Award
• Kristal Lee and Holly Smith, Alumni Academic Excellence Scholarship
• Nicholas Plassaras, School of Social Sciences Outstanding Honors Thesis Award

Order of Merit Award Recipients
Since 1983, the Order of Merit has been given annually to the top 2% of the Social Sciences undergraduate students who best exemplify commitment to academic distinction, leadership, and service to the School, campus, and community. Recipients for 2010 include:

• Christine Adam
• Shaudi Adel
• Brenda Andalon
• Debra Antista-Bianchi
• Sarah Barber
• Ashley Carey
• Elaine Cartas
• Vicki Wing Chan
• Christopher Cialeo
• Luis Contreras Diaz
• Shayona Dhanak
• Ben Elconin
• Aleksan Giragosian
• Emily Hetu
• Carly Hiebert
• Kristal Lee
• Jenny Lopez
• Juan Lopez
• Erna Mamikonyan
• Michelle Mar
• Cristian Martinez
• Kelsey Meagher
• Marissa Oxman
• Kianna Parviz
• Nicholas Plassaras
• Victoria Ramirez
• Maryam Rokhideh
• Melissa Sakamoto
• Matthew Seamon
• Angela Vossmeyer
• James Wo
• Stephanie Yang