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Our Members

Attention All Bobcats!

Vanguard is committed to the shared success of every student at UC Merced! 

Below, you will find a list of all the engineering RCO's (Registered Clubs and Organizations) at UC Merced! From Aerospace, Robotics, Civil Engineering, and much more we invite you to take a look at some of the organizations our vibrant campus has to offer. For any other questions or concerns please reach out to us at vanguard@ucmerced.edu.

 

Get Involved Today!


  • "One Team, One Dream" The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is a national professional organization built to help aerospace professionals and their organizations succeed. With this, we took this mission to heart and established the UC Merced's AIAA Student Branch in 2013. Since then, our members have grown exponentially fueled by innovative ideas, ambitious energy, and a humble heart. We work on critical projects aimed at providing a well-rounded experience that challenges our members who come from all backgrounds and education. At UC Merced, it is our mission to prepare our members to reach their fullest potential and help launch the next journey of their amazing life. Our members are at the center of what we do at AIAA. Our club provides a diverse portfolio of strategic experiences that offer skill-development opportunities that prepare our members for the professional world. In fact, our Alumni have received offers and now work at some of the top Aerospace Companies in the world. Interested in joining one of our projects? Check out our external website!

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  • The purpose of ASCE shall be to provide resources and general information about a degree in civil engineering and careers related to the major. The goal is to develop a support network for students within the civil engineering program or interested in the major. We aim to create a welcoming community and allow opportunities for students to connect with peers, faculty, and special guests. We will provide resources and workshops for students to improve their academic and professional careers.

    • President: Lisette Flores-Sanchez
    • Representative(s): Melissa Aguilar
    • Advisor: Siddaiah Yarra
    • Website: https://linktr.ee/ucm_cesa
    • Discord: available on their website and through UCM's discord student hub

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  • The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an international professional organization connecting Mechanical Engineers in the industry and in academia throughout the world. ASME at UC Merced will provide a gateway for UC Merced Mechanical Engineering students to connect with one another, develop their skills and career-readiness, and learn about future professions in the world of Mechanical Engineering. Through professional, technical, and social events, UC Merced students will have the chance to enrich their lives through membership to ASME at UC Merced.

    • President: Anthony Luna
    • Representative(s): Maddie McGrath
    • Advisor: Siddaiah Yarra
    • Website: TBD
    • Discord: TBD

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  • The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Student Branch offers student members the opportunity to interact and 'network' with members of the local ASHRAE Chapter, to participate in technical tours, learn from guest speakers, present technical papers, and interact with other students with the same career interests. ASHRAE is the American professional association seeking to advance heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems design and construction. ASHRAE has more than 57,000 members in more than 132 countries worldwide.

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  • ACM, the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. We're just your friendly neighborhood student chapter at UC Merced. If you have any interest in Computer Science or would like to meet with other CS students with passion, join ACM. We have General Meetings every Friday from 6-7pm, and Coffee and Code every Tuesday from 12-2pm. Please join our discord at bit.ly/acm-ucm-discord and follow our Instagram @ucmacm for latest events and updates. We provide workshops, collaborative projects, mentorship, network, and career advice for Computer Science and many related fields. We currently focus on Software Engineering, Artificial intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Design fields and for each of the fields, we host projects/workshops. If you would like to to boost your resume with projects and get the internships/jobs you want, we welcome you to join our projects and contribute.

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  • BMES

    The purpose of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Student Chapter is to encourage the development, dissemination, integration, and utilization of knowledge in biomedical engineering through means of research, discussion, and application. The chapter promotes community through the provision and insight of the objectives of BMES via networking and outreach opportunities within the university's department and external relations.

    • President: Miranda Bada
    • Representative(s): Dennis Stitt
    • Advisor: Joel Spencer
    • Website: TBD
    • Discord: available through UCM's discord student hub

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  • Google Developer Group on Campus: UC Merced, supported by Google Developers, invites university students from all backgrounds to connect, learn, and grow through all things Google, from TensorFlow to Google Cloud to Android! Anyone can join to improve their technical repertoire in a collaborative and open environment, all while building solutions for their local community.

    • President: Emi Rueth
    • Representative(s): TBD
    • Advisor: Santosh Chandrasekhar
    • Website: https://gdgucm.carrd.co/
    • Discord: available through UCM's discord student hub

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  • We are a student branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Our mission is to connect the students of UC Merced with IEEE resources and events, working on electronics-based projects, and collaborating with other STEM organizations on campus.

    • President: Matthew Lansing
    • Representative(s): Collin Dennis
    • Advisor: Sarah Kurtz
    • Website: https://ieeemerced.com/
    • Discord: available on their website and through UCM's discord student hub

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  • On behalf of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at the University of California, Merced, we would like to cordially welcome you to build a partnership and join the largest student-managed organization in the world. NSBE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to "increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community." NSBE transforms young minority students into leaders and professionals who can positively and effectively function in the corporate and professional world. At the University of California, Merced we have not only had success in living out our mission, but also in the recruitment, retention, and graduation of qualified minorities in the STEM fields. Our chapter programmatic efforts target retention, academic excellence, leadership development, and civic engagement. Every year we seek to expand and enhance our goals. Please join us in living the mission and you will be able to benefit from all that NSBE has to offer. Contact any Executive Board Member for more information!

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  • Robotics Society at UC Merced is an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for students to take part in or lead student-driven projects within the field of robotics, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in multiple fields of study.

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  • Welcome to the Society of Automotive Engineers (Bobcat Racing EV) at UC Merced, a project-based organization dedicated to advancing sustainable mobility. Our club is at the forefront of engineering innovation, where we design, build, and race electric vehicles that prioritize eco-friendly transportation solutions. Through hands-on projects, we foster an environment that empowers members to contribute to a cleaner and more efficient automotive industry. Join us as we drive progress and create a lasting impact on the future of sustainable transportation.

    • President: Nicholas Sultana
    • Representative(s): Maurice Young
    • Advisor: Ashlie Martini & Ricardo Pinto de Castro
    • Website: https://www.bobcatracingev.com/
    • Discord: TBD

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  • SASE is a non-profit student organization dedicated to help advance scientists & engineers of (and not limited to) Asian heritage for success after their undergraduate degree though the development of one’s professional/technical skills, providing opportunities to individuals, surrounding students with a network of individuals that want them to succeed, and to promote/celebrate diversity on campus. 

    Our vision statement is to have each one of our members set up with a variety of professional experiences to allow them to transition to life after their undergraduate degree effortlessly, whether that be to help them attain an internship, research position, etc.

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  • The purpose of this student chapter is to increase the number of Hispanic STEM students at the University of California, Merced. Promote the advancement of Hispanic engineers and scientists in employment and education. Develop and participate in programs within the industry and the university, which benefit students seeking technical degrees. Improve the retention of Hispanic students enrolled in engineering and science. Provide a forum for the exchange of information pertinent for Hispanic engineering/science students enrolled at UC Merced. Increase STEM Awareness towards Hispanic students in and around Merced County.

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  • SWE at UC Merced is a professional organization that works together to bring support to female engineers on campus. Our members gain valuable knowledge and insight into today's job markets by attending both local workshops and national conferences. Our goal is to help every member achieve maximum professional and educational success.SWE at UC Merced acknowledges the importance of outreach and encouraging younger students to pursue careers in engineering through the annual conference (EYH) for middle school and high school students. Through the conference, the students participate in workshops that enhance their knowledge of engineering.

    • President: Liliana Corona
    • Representative(s): Hailey Thao
    • Advisor: Colleen Naughton
    • Website: https://sweucmerced.weebly.com/
    • Slack: available on their website

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  • Vanguard Engineering Society is a student-run umbrella organization underneath the School of Engineering whose vision is to build an engineering community of leaders focused on the professional and technical development of their peers, UC Merced, and the local community. We make this possible by executing our daily mission of supporting the development of engineering registered club organizations (RCOs) by preparing every student leader with the foundations in leadership and impact-driven strategies.

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