In contrast to the newcomers of the daytime, on the night of Bobcat Day, people who already know what UC Merced has to offer traveled to campus.
Alumni from the graduating classes of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 celebrated the opening of the Wallace-Dutra Amphitheatre with its first official event: a reunion for the “Founding Classes” hosted by the UC Merced Alumni Association.
The festivities began at 5:30 p.m. on April 12, with approximately 194 alumni–the largest alumni event to date, according to UC Merced Alumni Relations Director Heather Wilensky.
“The amphitheater is ethereal and open and friendly. It’s an atmosphere that encourages networking,” said Jackie Shay, UC Merced class of 2009 now a graduate student in the field of mycology, the study of fungi, at San Francisco State University.
Shay was, to say the least, an active student during her time at UC Merced. Shay founded a number of clubs and served as Interval Vice President for the associated students from 2007 to 2009.
“I’m honored, but I’m also really pleased that this is the first event to christen this area,” said Shay of the reunion. She also expressed regret that peer Matthew Lyons was unable to attend. Lyons was the amphitheater project leader who helped to pioneer the brick campaign that generated funds for construction of the class gift.
Despite the absence of Lyons, the alumni event did not experience a shortage of exceptionally involved alumni.
Sanjeev Chahal is a founding member of the campus’ first dance group, Dance Coalition, popularly known as D.Co. He and four other alumni performed at the reunion event to add to their list of firsts at UC Merced.
“Our class gift came to fruition and we performed in it!” said Chahal with a grin. “It’s super cool to be back and to be in [the amphitheater].”
Class of 2009 graduate Socorra Camposanto made a symbolic vocal performance in the Wallace-Dutra Amphitheater. Camposanto, who wrote and sang the 2009 commencement ceremony song, since she couldn’t “find a song that reflected [her] experience” at UC Merced, and created and performed another original song for the reunion. Camposanto is currently employed at a music school and credits UC Merced for helping her break out of her shell.
UC Merced’s impact on their lives after graduation was a common theme with the alumni. They also noted their continued strong relationships with classmates.
“We are all friends still, we carpooled. We’ve all kept in contact since 2005,” stated Renata Santillan, a class of 2009 graduate who now lives in San Francisco.
Santillan and Roshell Amezcua, who transferred to UC Davis after her second year at UC Merced, speculated on why so many alumni are still close friends.
“There wasn’t anything to do when we were here…It was a lot of bonding being very secluded,” said Amezcua and Santillan as they reflected on their first years at UC Merced.
“Just seeing everybody, it’s like we never left. This is where we grew up essentially. We’re all back here to see the growth,” explained Chahal. “My entire sophomore year house it here!”
“Everybody is wonderful, happy, excited. I feel overjoyed. This place changed my life. Every high, every low, every in-between helped me into the woman I am,” said Shay and ended her interview with a hug.
The Wallace-Dutra Amphitheater is described by the Office of Student Life as “an outdoor multilevel grass venue with a 60’ x 60’ concrete stage.” The amphitheater can be reserved up to six months in advance, but no less than six weeks in advance.