ARCS Foundation Funds Scholar Awards for UC San Diego Graduate Students

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Surrounded by ARCS fellowship recipients, Robin Luby presents check to Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla

The San Diego chapter of ARCS^® Foundation, Inc., awarded $232,500 in fellowships to support 31 graduate students at the University of California, San Diego, for the 2012-13 academic year. The ARCS Foundation, a national volunteer women’s organization, provides awards to top students studying science, medicine and engineering. The local chapter has donated $3.8 million to support UC San Diego students since the chapter’s inception in 1985.

 “ARCS Foundation has supported and inspired the efforts of our doctoral students conducting research in the science, engineering and medical fields for more than two decades,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “We are grateful for the foundation’s continued investment in these students, who will go on to transform our community, nation and world.”

ARCS Foundation was founded in 1958 to address what was recognized as a critical future need for U.S. scientists and engineers. Today, the organization seeks to address the country’s continuing demand for researchers in science, engineering and medicine. At UC San Diego, the 2012 ARCS scholar awards will support graduate students studying in a wide range of disciplines, from public health to bioinformatics, and from oceanography to mechanical and aerospace engineering.

“We believe that supporting students who have talent and promise is the hope we have for making a difference in the future,” said Robin Luby, president of ARCS San Diego Chapter. “These outstanding students will spark research and development to find new discoveries, cure diseases and enhance the quality of life for generations to come.”

Sparking innovation, graduate students are vital to the success of UC San Diego’s research, education and service enterprise. Providing more fellowships, like ARCS scholars awards, is a key priority for the university. ARCS Foundation’s gift also counts towards UC San Diego’s $50 million student support campaign, Invent the Future.

ARCS Foundation is a nonprofit, all-volunteer women’s organization with 17 chapters nationwide dedicated to helping the “best and brightest” U.S. students pursue their degrees in science, engineering and medical research. The San Diego Chapter of ARCS has 154 members, all of whom contribute funds toward fellowships awarded locally to UC San Diego, the University of San Diego, The Scripps Research Institute and San Diego State University. In addition to member donations, contributions come from corporations, foundations and individuals.

For more information on ARCS, visit www.arcsfoundation.org/san_diego. To learn more about how you can support scholarships and fellowships as part of the Invent the Future campaign, please visit inventthefuture.ucsd.edu.