Anika Agrawal, who is graduating with a degree in environmental toxicology, is the 2019 recipient of the CA&ES College Medal. Born in Boston and raised in India, she first became interested in the field of toxicology when she was 10 years old and recognized that the fireworks used during Diwali, the festival of lights, were a source of air pollution. She learned science communication techniques that prompted more than 500 fellow students to pledge not to use fireworks. That experience propelled her to seek out the environmental toxicology program at UC Davis. During her time as an undergraduate, she refined her interest to marine pollution and conducted experiments on how common chemicals used in cosmetics hindered the fertilization of sea urchin eggs. She took classes in science writing and science journalism, convinced that effective communication to the public is an essential skill for scientists. While at Davis, she also served as a chemistry and physics tutor to share her enthusiasm with the next generation of scientists. Her plans are to engage more people in issues surrounding climate change and anthropogenic pollution by conducting graduate level research through a master’s program at Texas A&M this fall and eventually working toward a teaching position. 

Nicole Finney grew up in the Bay Area and is graduating magna cum laude with a degree in global disease biology. She is a 2019 recipient of the Mary Regan Meyer Award. In her freshman year, she joined Willow Clinic, a UC Davis student-run clinic that provides free medical care to Sacramento’s homeless. An experience there taught her the power of words when a comment she made that “we women have to stick together” brought tears and a hug from one woman. She eventually became manager of Willow’s women’s clinic, and coordinated physicians, medical students, undergraduate volunteers and others for meetings, events and fundraisers. Her experiences reinforced her desire to go to medical school, but not before pursuing a master’s in Public Health to focus on women’s health. Finney spent the summer of her junior year in Bolivia working as an intern in hospitals and clinics and learning how to communicate with patients in a culturally sensitive way. She also discovered an interest in clinical research working in the Slupsky Nutrition and Food Science Lab and with the UC Davis Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program. Finney is grateful for her time as an undergraduate and excited to see what the future brings.

Emily Thuy Tien Nguyen, who is graduating with degrees in global disease biology and French, is a 2019 recipient of the Mary Regan Meyer Award. A proud daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, she grew up in San Jose, California. She credits her involvement with student organizations and a research lab in helping her grow and find ways to contribute to society. At the student-run Knights Landing One Health Center, she learned about medicine and social determinants of health alongside physicians, community members, medical students and fellow undergraduates. She also volunteered with Alzheimer's Buddies at UC Davis, which collaborates with local senior homes to support those with dementia. She co-founded the UC Davis Rock Climbing team and fostered its growth into a competitive team ranking both regionally and nationally. She also worked in the Kinyua Lab, focusing on menstrual hygiene management solutions. In her junior year, Nguyen was part of the first group of UC Davis students who participated in the Nepal Seminar Abroad to work on health issues in a mountain village. After graduation, she plans to spend time with family and explore further work and studies in global health and community development before applying to medical school.

Karina Castillo, who is graduating with a degree in clinical nutrition, is a 2019 recipient of the Charles Hess Community Service Award. She is a first-generation college graduate from Newark, California. Early on as an undergraduate, she became a campus tour guide at the Welcome Center, an experience that gave her public speaking experience and an opportunity to discover a passion for helping her fellow students. Castillo became a peer advisor in the CA&ES dean’s office, taking the initiative to make the advising space a welcoming environment, volunteering for hiring committees, and engaging with students in residence halls and in social activities. Her efforts were acknowledged when she received the Peer Adviser of the Year award for her dedication. Her off-campus service to promote healthy lifestyles has taken many forms. She has worked as a lead instructor for a nutrition education class at a local health clinic, developed curricula for an underserved elementary school in Sacramento and volunteered for an emergency medicine research program at the UC Davis Medical Center. This summer Castillo is looking forward to participating in a UC Davis internship in Bolivia that focuses on rural medicine, where she can apply her knowledge of preventative health and take the next step in her career as a dietitian.

Matthew Licina, who is graduating with a degree in sustainable agriculture and food systems, is a 2019 recipient of the Charles Hess Community Service Award. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, his interest in food and agriculture began 10 years ago through work in restaurant kitchens, on farms and with community supported agriculture. He graduated with honors from the Culinary Institute of America before eventually making his way to UC Davis. Hiking the Appalachian Trail sparked a desire to learn about community economic development. Licina found like-minded individuals in the Department of Human Ecology and soon became the inaugural researcher in the Community Economic Development Lab. His work focused on the cooperative organizational structure and planning for healthy communities. Licina has been a leader of the Community Economies Collaborative, a group dedicated to influencing policy change and increasing sustainability. Licina has also been involved with the Davis Food Cooperative, the Agricultural Sustainability Institute, and the Office of Sustainability’s Green Initiative Fund. This spring he was part of a winning team representing UC Davis at the Collegiate Leadership Competition. Licina plans to continue work closing the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” by fostering cooperatives in disadvantaged communities.

Evan Dumas, who is graduating with a degree in biotechnology, is a recipient of the 2019 Dean’s Circle Award for outstanding academics and community service. Originally from Culver City in Southern California, Dumas planned to come to UC Davis since his freshman year in high school, when he learned how biotechnology could help fight world hunger through crop improvement. He had his sights set on a Ph.D. to conduct research on plants. He worked at various jobs such as a biopesticide company and a campus soil lab, and then he found the magic of service, volunteering with soup kitchens and food banks. He also volunteered with the Food Recovery Network, a campus club that collects and donates surplus food to local charities. Dumas discovered how the power of compassion brings people together to make positive and lasting change. At the end of the day, he says, people are the key to personal fulfillment and global progress. After graduation, he plans to continue his journey of self-discovery in Europe for the summer and then join Americorps for a 10-month program of community service throughout the United States. After that, he plans to continue to find ways to make a difference in people’s lives.

Erin Hisey, who is graduating with a degree in animal science, is a 2019 recipient of the Dean's Circle Award. Growing up in Flower Mound, Texas, Hisey discovered at an early age that she wanted to become a veterinarian. What she didn't know is how much her experiences at UC Davis could transform that goal. As a freshman, she volunteered with the Foal Team and learned how to take care of baby horses at the vet school. After volunteering for two years at the equine neonatal ICU, she was offered a position as a student veterinary technician. She also participated in an internship at a nearby Thoroughbred breeding farm monitoring pregnant mares, a hands-on experience in equine reproduction beyond her expectations. She discovered another passion working as a research assistant in an equine genetics lab. Now, her goal is to do research on genetic diseases in horses and to implement appropriate disease treatments. For four years, Hisey has been a recipient of the Provost Scholarship and the Regents' Scholarship, and was a participant in the University Honors Program. After graduation, she plans to pursue her refined ambitions by simultaneously pursuing DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine) and Ph.D. degrees. 

Ariel Muñoz, who is graduating with a degree in global disease biology, is a 2019 recipient of the Dean's Circle Award. A second-generation Chicana who grew up in the Coachella Valley, she is the first in her family to pursue a college education. Her passion for community involvement flourished at UC Davis. With the UC Davis Center for Leadership, she helped bring food donations from local grocery stores to the campus Pantry. Muñoz has been involved in a number of activities through the Prytanean Women's Honor Society, including a fundraiser for the Empower Yolo emergency shelter, the UC Davis Relay for Life community fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, several crab feeds for the Sacramento Children's Home and many other charitable activities. As a student researcher with the UC Davis Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, she studied host-pathogen interactions, including the connection between vitamin A deficiency and salmonella infection. At UNC-Chapel Hill last summer she studied epidemiological methods to determine the prevalence of malaria in pregnant women in foreign countries. This fall, she will pursue a master’s in public health at UC Berkeley and then plans to earn a doctorate in epidemiology.