8th Annual UC Alumni Gala - Evening Program by uocaliforniatrust

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ALUMNI UK

8TH ANNUAL GALA

The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn | May 10, 2025

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to the 8th Annual University of California Alumni Gala. This celebration brings together alumni, staff, faculty and study abroad students representing most campuses under one glorious roof, the Great Hall. Tonight, we celebrate how the University of California system improves the lives of not only California residents, but people across the globe. It is an educational system with nearly 300,000 students, 70 Nobel Prize winners, 42 Pulitzer Prize winners, over 2.5 million living alumni, and an average of 4 inventions every day.

While we are all proud to be a part of this community, it isn’t just about this evening. We are also here to secure a better future for the next generation of students by enabling more of them to participate in study and cultural exchange. It is through curiosity born from learning through different lenses that the UC system will continue to invent, imagine and build a better world.

Help us do our part to make a difference. All funds raised from the silent auction, Heads & Tails, the raffles and the casino will go to scholarship funds supporting the next generation of UC talent. We encourage you to consider donating to support students in need by making a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

GRETA PAA-KERNER

Executive Director

University of California Trust

Members of the UC Alumni UK Board

September 2024

TONIGHT’S VENUE

The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four legal “Inns of Court” to which any barrister practicing law in England and Wales must be admitted. This location was chosen in 1234 after Henry III decreed that no institutes of legal education could exist in the City of London, leading to a move just outside the City near the courts of Westminster Hall.

We are seated in The Great Hall this evening, which is a relatively new edition to the estate and was opened in 1845 by Queen Victoria. In neoTudor style, it was built when the Old Hall became too small for Lincoln Inn’s growing membership.

Although law was practiced at Lincoln’s Inn for centuries, it wasn’t until 1920 that the first woman, Marjorie Powell was admitted. Famous members of Lincoln’s Inn include former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, H.H. Asquith, William Gladstone, and Wiliam Pitt the Younger.

PROGRAM

5:45 PM Drinks Reception 7:00 PM Welcome

Greta Paa-Kerner

Executive Director, University of California Trust

7:15 PM Dinner & Speeches

Vivian-Lee Nyitray

UC Riverside Executive Director, UC Education Abroad Program

Arfa Momin

EAP Scholarship Student | UC Berkeley

9:15 PM Dessert Bar & Casino Open

11:00 PM Silent Auction Winners Announced 11:30 PM Casino Winners Announced Midnight Carriages

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

VIVIAN-LEE NYITRAY ASSOCIATE VICE PROVOST & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

UC EDUCATION ABROAD

PROGRAM

Vivian-Lee Nyitray (Ph.D., Stanford, 1990) is Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director, University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) and Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at UC Riverside. She began this position at UCEAP in 2016 after time in China as the founding dean of two experimental liberal arts colleges (the Prospect Colleges) in Chongqing and Taigu (Shanxi Province).

Earlier, and for more than 20 years, she was a member and then chair of the Religious Studies faculty at UC Riverside. A nationally recognized teacher-scholar, she held the Patricia McSweeny McCauley Chair of Teaching Excellence prior to her retirement in 2012-13.

A native New Yorker, Nyitray is proud to be the spouse and parent of UC alumni, and has enjoyed a long relationship with UCEAP, having twice been Faculty Director in the Netherlands between 2002-2007.

Her continuing field of research focuses on ConfucianTaoist interactions, feminist analyses of Confucian texts, and studies of the sea goddess Tianhou/Mazu. A new publication, Women and Chinese Religion: Persuasion and Power, is forthcoming from NYU Press.

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP SPEAKER

Arfa Momin grew up in a small town in Texas as a daughter of two immigrants. Navigating the space between two separate cultures, she was raised with a deep curiosity about the world around her.

Her passion for global learning was sparked in high school, when she studied Persian during a summer abroad in Central Asia through a government-funded scholarship.

Inspired by that experience, she was drawn to UC Berkeley in part for its extensive study abroad opportunities.

With the support of the UCEAP Global Scholarship, guidance from Berkeley Study Abroad advisors, and careful planning, Arfa decided to spend a semester at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

While at St Andrews, she’s become involved with local sports teams and student-run art productions and has fallen in love with Scotland’s landscape and coast—it’s unlike anywhere she’s called home before.

Arfa is a double major in Geography and Computer Science at UC Berkeley and will graduate in May 2026.

ARFA MOMIN

UC BERKELEY

NICOLE’S UPDATE

NICOLE CALBREATH

STUDENT SPEAKER 2024

UC DAVIS

Since returning to UC Davis, I have realized that my time studying in Barcelona improved my confidence, adaptability, and fortitude. Having the opportunity to study in Spain was an irreplaceable educational experience. I learned how a history curriculum can differ based on cultural perspectives and studying abroad offered me a new way to view American culture and history. My international experience also offered me a deeper understanding of US international influence and impact. Whilst studying abroad, I made lasting friendships and still frequently talk to the family I lived with on Zoom.

Currently in my final year of undergrad, I work as the Community Coordinator of the UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center implementing programs that improve the climate and culture for queer and trans students. I also represent Aggies as the UCD representative on the UCOP Title IX Student Advisory Committee. Off campus, I am a Crime Strategies Unit Intern for the Yolo County District Attorney's Office in Sacramento. I will graduate this June with honors as a double major in History and Sociology with an Emphasis in Law. I plan on working in Southern California then applying to law school.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PROVOST

At the University of California, we have always prepared our students to be citizens of the world and engage with complex global challenges with empathy, curiosity, and determination.

Our alumni are an essential part of this enterprise. You model what this means in practice, and you epitomize how a UC education equips graduates to lead, have impact, and preserve these essential international bonds. This is particularly important in this moment when the durable ties between the US, the UK, and Europe require continuous reinforcement.

UC students who study abroad are among our most adventurous, and your support for their ambitions could not be more critical. They are the compassionate, innovative leaders and thinkers of tomorrow – they are the future. Thank you for all you do for them, and thank you for your steadfast commitment to academic excellence, lifelong learning, and the sharing of knowledge across borders.

KATHERINE S. NEWMAN PROVOST & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

GUARDIAN SCHOLARS FUND

Your support allows UC students to have life-changing experiences abroad. We are especially grateful for support from alumni and friends like you, who commit to opening up the world for others and help shape the next generation of global citizens.

UCEAP receives thousands of scholarship applications each year from students of all different backgrounds with aspirations to make a global difference. New challenges such as increased educational costs, academic progress towards a four-year degree, competition for internships and the affordability of living abroad are all factors in a student’s decision to study abroad. For many students, the once in a lifetime opportunity is not possible without scholarship support.

This year, along with our scholarship funds on campus, we are highlighting the Guardian Scholars Fund. The Guardian Scholars Fund is a program that supports former foster youth who are pursuing their dreams of study abroad with UCEAP. Unlike most college students, Guardian Scholars do not have families on whom they can rely for simple things that other students take for granted, like a place to store their belongings while abroad.

UCEAP believes international academic experience is more important than ever and we are committed to providing access to all students who want to study abroad. No gift is too small – it is your participation that’s important.

On behalf of all our students, thank you for your continued support.

CAMPUS SCHOLARSHIPS

Tonight, the University of California Trust also encourages you to support the following study abroad scholarships:

Berkeley Berkeley Study Abroad Scholarship Fund Fund for International House

Davis UC Davis Study Abroad Foundation

Irvine UC Irvine Study Abroad

UCLA Education Abroad Program – Chatham House (EAP) UCLA Anderson Europe Fellowship

Merced UC Merced Study Abroad

Riverside UCR Education Abroad Programs Scholarship

San Diego UCSD Alumni UK Education Abroad Scholarship

Santa Barbara UCSB UK Donor Group

Santa Cruz Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship Support

SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS AT YOUR UC CAMPUS!

WANT TO SUPPORT ANOTHER UC INITIATIVE? PLEASE COMPLETE ONE OF THE PLEDGE CARDS ON YOUR TABLE, OR SPEAK TO A MEMBER OF STAFF.

SILENT AUCTION

• A Manchester City jersey signed by the current team

• Two tickets to a Premier League match of your choice

• A place on Christie's five-day summer course, "An Essential Guide to the Art World and Collecting"

• Two tickets to see Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in London

• A meal for two and a bottle of premium tequila from Mestizo Chelsea

• Three Executive Coaching Sessions with Yann Dang, Aspire Coaching ... and more!

View our full list of prizes and place your bids by scanning the QR Code.

Exchange Rate: £1.00 GBP to $1.33 USD

(Accurate as of April 24, 2025)

RAFFLE PRIZES

You can help UC provide a global education to the current generation of students by taking part in the Raffle Prize Draw. We have two draws taking place with fabulous prizes available! To purchase your raffle tickets, visit the raffle table in the reception, or find one of our Roaming Raffle Sellers.

Ticket Prices

3 tickets for £10 10 tickets for £25 25 tickets for £50

Prize Draw One: A 3-night Stay in a Flat in Barcelona

Come stay in the most beautiful square in Gracia, a friendly neighborhood in the heart of Barcelona. The flat includes two bedrooms (one with double bed and one with two twin beds), two full bathrooms (one ensuite), a living room with sofa bed, and a high quality American-style large kitchen. The flat sleeps up to 6 people. And is well connected to the city center.

Prize Draw Two: A Weekend in Paris

The charming Hotel Bedford is offering a two-night stay for those craving some French je ne sais quoi! Located in Paris’s Madeleine District, the Hotel Bedford offers a unique and elegant charm.

FINAL RAFFLE: CAMPUS PRIZE DRAW

Support your UC campus and enter for a chance to win prizes donated by our campus table sponsors!

All campus raffle prizes will also come with two vouchers for Hoka, Ugg, and/or Teva, worth £185 each. Vouchers are eligible for UK purchases only, and expire March 31, 2026.

Campus Raffle Draw closes at 11:15pm.

A one-of-a-kind artwork celebrating the 90th Anniversary of International House by renowned artist and Berkeley alum, David Goines.

Rep your Anteater pride with this package of exclusive UC Irvine goodies, including a UCI Letterman Jacket, Game -worn Baseball Jersey, a mini tote bag and more!

Proudly display your Bruin spirit with this game-day ball signed by the UCLA Men’s Basketball team.

Fancy a picnic with friends or family this summer? Enjoy your day out with a limited edition Anderson blanket and hat. You can also stay connected with a unique iPad folio.

Get ready to score big with these signed men's and women’s basketballs commemorating the UC San Diego Tritons' historic march to the NCAA Tournament. You will also enjoy a selection of books by distinguished Tritons!

Take home this special bundle of Banana Slug themed swag courtesy of UC Santa Cruz!

Enjoy a group of unique UCEAP merch including a backpack, cuddly blanket, and a compact bum bag for all your travels abroad.

CASINO ROYALE COMES TO UC!

The casino is a new addition to our annual gala, we hope you have fun playing. Remember, all the funds raised go to student scholarships.

Here is how it works:

To enjoy the casino, you will need to purchase MASECO Money, which you will exchange for chips. Starting from 9:15 pm, visit the MASECO Money tables throughout the venue and buy some fun money. If you have pre-purchased your money, please visit the Silent Auction table to collect your pre-orders.

Here’s the conversion rate:

You Spend You Receive

£20 § 100

£50 § 300

£75 § 500

Take your MASECO Money into either side room and play the tables. The dealer will exchange your MASECO fun money for chips, which you can use to play Blackjack, Roulette, or Craps.

COURTESY OF

At the end of the night, the players with the most chips will win prizes. There is no need to be present to win, but make sure you first return your chips along with your name and email to one of our MASECO Money tables and you will be notified by email if you have won.

You can also find a photo booth in one of the casino rooms – bring some friends and take a snap as a memento of the evening!

Please note that fun money is non-refundable, and no returns will be given for unspent fun money.

Thank you to our sponsor MASECO Private Wealth for making the fundraising casino possible.

A two-night stay with breakfast at the Hotel & Winery

Hacienda Señorío de Nevada in Spain

Pasta cooking & dining experience for four at the award-winning Rossoblu in Los Angeles

One-year digital subscription to the Financial Times

Casino Second Prize

Casino First Prize

Casino Third Prize

Buy award-winning Spanish wine from Hacienda Señorío de Nevada. Now delivering to the United States.

Scan the QR code to buy wine from our vineyards at Hacienda Señorío de Nevada. Made in our winery in view of the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada, Spain, your purchase will be delivered within 72 hours.

UC Alumni UK Summer Celebration

July 2024

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Gala Planning Committee

Sabrina Bohedba (UC San Diego)

Claire Box (UC Santa Barbara)

Cheryl Campbell (UC Irvine)

Gem Chan (UCLA)

Rachel DeAngelis (UC Santa Barbara)

Kara Goslin-Osen (UC Santa Barbara)

Roberta Makoni (UC Berkeley)

Jorge Medina (UC Irvine)

Greta Paa-Kerner (UC San Diego)

Heena Patel (UCLA)

Sabrina Pieraccioli (UCLA)

Todd Shelley (UC Santa Barbara)

Romy Stein (UCOP)

University of California Trust

Juan Lopez

Greta Paa-Kerner

Todd Shelley

Romy Stein

Matthew Daines (UCLA)

Campus Table Sponsors

International House at UC Berkeley

UC Irvine

UCLA

UCLA Anderson School of Management

UC San Diego

UC Santa Cruz

Board of Trustees

Deborah Miller (Chair)

Jodi Anderson

Brad Barber

Renee Duci

David Helson

Megan Kissinger

Heather Kopeck

Geoff O’Neill

Phil White

Corporate Sponsors

MASECO Private Wealth

Jaffe & Co.

Thank you to our entire alumni community for making this event and all of our activities possible.

LONDON . UNIVERSITYOFCALIFORNIA . EDU