Author Archives: Hon Hoang

Big Ten® Alumni Relations Institute (BTARI) 2025 - Day 1

BTARI is a three-day gathering of alumni relations professionals from across the Big Ten® that explore emerging trends, share innovative strategies and build meaningful connections.

These are images captured from the first day of BTARI.

Grad Cap Contest Winner - 2025

Congratulations Anoushka Bhat '25

"During my freshman year at UCLA, I founded Henna with a Heart, a club dedicated to sharing the art of henna with my fellow Bruins. What began as a small group of students quickly grew into a vibrant community cherished by many across campus. Through this organization, I developed as a leader, built lasting connections and truly found my home at UCLA. This graduation cap is a tribute to that journey. Decorated with dimensional fabric paint and rhinestones that echo the intricate patterns of henna art, my grad cap symbolizes the creativity, culture, and community that defined my UCLA experience."

Thank you to Wescom, the official banking partner of the UCLA Alumni Association, for sponsoring this contest. The winning grad cap was selected by UCLA Alumni Association staff via voting for submissions which remained anonymous. The winner will receive a $500 UCLA Store gift card.

Honorable Mentions

Rose Saubel ʼ25

“I am an enrolled member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians tribe, and we traditionally bead our graduation caps and wear feathers to represent our heritage and to honor our ancestors. I designed and hand-beaded my own cap which includes several thousand size 11 beads that were stitched down every two beads apart. The edge design of the cap was inspired by my late father's favorite beadwork that he would usually wear on his hats. The blue triangles represent the mountains within my ancestral lands located within the Coachella Valley. I strategically designed three blue mountains on each side to represent my little family including my daughter, my husband and myself. The top part of my cap includes a rose to honor my late Grandma Rose, who I was named after. She was a matriarch of my family but sadly passed away before I could meet her. I dedicate my cap to my late father, family, ancestors, tribe and all of Indian Country as I would not be here without their support and resilience.”

Dulce Lopez Hernandez ʼ25

“This cap represents more than a degree — it symbolizes resilience, dedication and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter. As a first-generation student, becoming pregnant during undergrad was never part of the plan, but life’s timing had its purpose. Against the odds and despite the doubts, I pushed forward. This is for my daughter, who gave me the strength to keep going.”

Jacquelyn Chau ʼ25

“My graduation cap is dedicated to the people who have stood by me every step of the way: my family. Throughout my two years at UCLA, they have been my constant support system and have been there for me through everything. The quote ‘Did it for them’ is a tribute to my parents and grandparents, who are immigrants from Vietnam.

After the Vietnam War, they made the dangerous choice to escape by boat, leaving behind everything they knew in hopes of a better life. They came to the U.S. with nothing but resilience and dreams for a brighter future. It’s because of their sacrifices, strength and love that I’ve had the opportunity to be here at UCLA and succeed in school.

This cap is for them. It’s for their journey, their hopes and the future they made possible for me. I carry their story with me always, and I graduate not just for myself, but for my whole family.”

Sloane Shevin ʼ25

“I specifically chose this movie focused “La La Land” design for a number of reasons. One is because the film is easily one of my favorite films of all time. Since first watching the movie, “La La Land” has been a film I consistently go back to, reminding me that even though plans and paths may change, you can never give up on your dreams. My two dreams in life were to get into UCLA and be in the film industry. Now, both of these goals have been accomplished, it felt very fitting to have that represented on my graduation cap. I also added a few additional "UCLA" touches to the design including Joe Bruin replacing Ryan Gosling from the original poster (with a "25" on his jersey to represent my graduation year), Royce silhouetted in the background, the iconic UCLA lamppost, and of course combining the film name with UCLA.

Momoka Yoshida ʼ25

“I love Snoopy and mushrooms. And I displayed Snoopy and mushrooms’ figure toys on a dashboard in front of passenger’s seat. They always watched over me all the way to go to UCLA. Also, every time I gave friends rides, my little cute figures entertained my friends. That is why I decided to put Snoopy and mushrooms picture on my graduation cap with rhinestones. They are my parts of memories of UCLA life.”

A Big Ten Bruinprint: UCLA’s Bold New Era

A Bold Leap and a Historic Year

When UCLA officially joined the Big Ten Conference on Aug. 2, 2024, it didn’t just shuffle opponents and game times — it stepped boldly into a new era of Bruin athletics.

For nearly 100 years, the Bruins called the Pac-12 home. Leaving behind decades of tradition wasn’t easy, but the promise of sharing the Bruin story nationwide, opening new doors for student-athletes and keeping our programs strong made the leap a bold but thoughtful step forward. Plus, a lucrative annual payout worth between $60 and $75 million made this move too good to pass up.  

The stakes were clear: could UCLA carry its legacy of academic and athletic excellence into a conference that stretched coast to coast? In year one, the answer was a resounding “yes,” and then some.  

UCLA closed out its debut Big Ten season by finishing fifth in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, an award that recognizes the top overall collegiate athletic programs in the United States, based on their performance in NCAA and NAIA championships. This was the program’s best showing since 2017-18 and a proud reminder that Bruins can thrive anywhere.

Championships, Records and Remarkable Moments

On the field and court, Bruins teams didn’t just compete…they excelled.  

UCLA won its 124th NCAA title, the second-most of any university in the nation, when Men’s Water Polo toppled USC, 11-8, in December.

Gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Brooklyn Moors brought home NCAA individual championships on the uneven bars and floor exercise, while the team came in second at the National Championships.  

Men’s Volleyball finished second in the nation after advancing to the national final for the third consecutive year.

Nearly 60 Bruins earned All-America honors, with four winning individual national titles.

UCLA was the only school this season to have both softball and baseball teams advance to the College World Series. Men’s Tennis continued its winning tradition by capturing the Big Ten Tournament title and advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the 40th time since the NCAA adopted a bracket format in 1977. UCLA teams won a total of 10 conference titles, most among Big Ten schools.

Bruins fans broke barriers, too. Women’s Basketball set a new single-game attendance record at Pauley Pavilion, with 13,659 fans cheering on the blue and gold on two different occasions, and Women’s Gymnastics also set a program attendance record with 12,918 fans in attendance at the March 9 meet.

For Women's Basketball, the Bruins' inaugural Big Ten campaign was a historic one. They posted a 34–3 overall (16–2 Big Ten), captured the Big Ten tournament crown, swept major conference honors - including Lauren Betts earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Player (Janiah Barker), and First‑Team alongside Kiki Rice - and secured the program’s first Final Four appearance under the NCAA era before falling to national champ UConn.

Men’s Basketball finished their inaugural Big Ten season at 23‑11 (13‑7 Big Ten), tied for fourth in conference play, and bowed out in the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round.

Football’s Big Ten debut put the Bruins on some of college football’s grandest stages. Historic matchups brought thousands of traveling fans, sparked new rivalries and gave our student-athletes the chance to play in some of the sport’s most legendary venues.

Miles Traveled, Lessons Learned

Behind the headlines is a quieter story of resilience and adaptation.  

The jump to the Big Ten meant transitioning from the Pac-12’s travel to mostly western schools. Many teams found themselves crossing the country several times a month — some logging more than 20,000 miles in a single year, nearly triple what they’d traveled before.  

But instead of letting all that travel slow them down, UCLA’s coaches, staff and student-athletes turned miles into momentum.

Teams stacked back-to-back away games to cut down on extra flights. Travel days doubled as study time. Hotel ballrooms turned into film rooms and pop-up study halls. The added miles tested not just their endurance, but their adaptability, time management and grit.

Investing in Mental Health and Academic Support

The University knew that cross-country travel could add stress and make balancing academics even tougher. That’s why before the first Big Ten whistle blew, UCLA invested in mental health services for student-athletes.  

Licensed therapists joined the athletics staff and new programs helped students build better sleep habits, handle jet lag and stay balanced while living out of a suitcase and keeping up GPAs.  

Advisors and faculty worked hand-in-hand with coaches to make sure coursework flexed with travel schedules. Online lectures, recorded classes and one-on-one tutoring kept Bruins plugged in, whether in a study hall, at home or an airport terminal halfway across the country.  

What emerged was a stronger culture of openness and support, a community that’s helping college athletes everywhere destigmatize mental health.

Bruins spoke up, supported each other and showed that mental well-being is just as vital to success as physical training.

The Power of Community

If the extra miles tested our student-athletes, they also brought the Bruin family closer together. Games in Piscataway, College Park, Omaha and beyond became mini-reunions for thousands of Bruins living in Big Ten country.

To help Bruins rally behind this new chapter, the UCLA Alumni Association carried the spirit of Westwood on the road all season long. On Aug. 2, UCLA Alumni kicked things off with the B1G Event – a launch party celebrating this new chapter in UCLA Athletics history.

Bruin Bash pregame parties and Big Bruin Weekends turned game days into celebrations - from the James West Alumni Center and the Rose Bowl to College Park, Maryland, Piscataway, New Jersey, Omaha, Nebraska and cities across Big Ten territory. Wherever Bruins gathered, there was always a place to reconnect, share stories and get the 8-Clap going before kickoff.

From record crowds at home to loyal fans on the road, Bruins showed what makes UCLA special, no matter where the team plays.

Looking Ahead

This national presence is already paying off. The Big Ten spotlight has amplified UCLA’s Olympic sports, opened new doors for students from the Midwest and welcomed thousands of new fans to the Bruin family.

Being part of the Big Ten has also brought opportunities for alumni to network and learn from our partner schools. This summer, UCLA Alumni will be hosting the Big Ten Alumni Relations Institute (BTARI) at the James West Alumni Center. This three-day conference will welcome alumni relations professionals from across the Big Ten to explore emerging trends, share innovative strategies and build meaningful connections.

Financially, the move kept all 25 varsity programs strong and boosted resources for travel, nutrition and wellness.

There was concern the extra miles would stretch the budget and the athletes too thin. But year one showed that smart planning, strong support and the Bruin spirit can turn challenges into an edge.

The miles aren’t going away, but maybe that’s not so bad.

The systems built this year — from mental health resources to flexible classes — laid the groundwork for even bigger success in year two and beyond.

Final Whistle

A year ago, the Big Ten move felt like a leap into the unknown. Today, as the final whistle has blown following the 2024-25 campaign, it’s now a blueprint for how Bruins can grow without giving up what makes us special: championship ambition, student-first values and a family that shows up — whether the team is playing at home or 2,800 miles away.  

Bruins didn’t just adapt; they excelled. They brought home trophies, broke attendance records, raised the bar for mental health and proved success is about more than wins and losses. It’s measured in study sessions on late-night flights, in professors who work with deadlines across time zones and in teammates who lift each other up through long road trips.  

Most of all, it’s measured in the unshakable spirit of Bruins everywhere…a reminder that wherever we play, we play together, for each other and for UCLA.

Mary Nguyen M.P.P.’23, M.S.W. ’23: Championing Social Justice and Policy Reform

Mary Nguyen (she/her) has always been driven by a passion for community advocacy. Growing up in Garden Grove and later Stanton, she was surrounded by a diverse cultural community that shaped her awareness of social and economic disparities. As a first-generation college graduate, Nguyen pursued a degree in Human Services at Cal State Fullerton before earning dual master’s degrees in Social Welfare and Public Policy from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Her early career in mental health as a housing specialist exposed her to the systemic barriers that many individuals face, particularly those experiencing homelessness. Nguyen worked closely with clients diagnosed with substance use disorders and mental health conditions, assisting them in navigating Section 8 housing and shelter programs. However, she soon realized that despite her best efforts, structural issues within housing policies often prevented real, lasting change.

"There were too many people applying for too few housing opportunities," Nguyen said. "Even when individuals followed every requirement, sudden policy shifts could push them further down the waiting list. It was then that I realized real change happens at the policy level."

This realization led her to UCLA, where she sought to bridge the gap between macro-level policy work and micro-level social services. At Luskin, Nguyen immersed herself in student leadership, becoming chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) caucus. She also led the Public Policy Leadership Association, stepping into roles that challenged her to advocate on a larger scale.

"I wanted to connect with my identity and my peers," she said. Although there were few Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students in my dual program, there was still a disconnect, where I wanted to foster a greater sense of community and build lasting connections."

Taking on leadership roles was initially outside her comfort zone. "As a Vietnamese woman, I grew up with the expectation to be quiet and not make waves," Nguyen said. "The programs and opportunities at UCLA helped me break out of that mindset. I stepped into leadership, first with the AAPI caucus and later as chair of the Public Policy Leadership Association."

She also participated in the global policy exchange program, Hertie, in Germany, which broadened her perspective on policymaking. "It made me realize how small our world is within the U.S., and how much we can learn from other countries' approaches to governance," she said.

From theory to practice

Nguyen's work at UCLA directly informed her current role as Policy and Research Manager at the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative. The organization advocates for social justice issues, particularly for low-income Vietnamese immigrant and refugee nail salon workers.

"Our organization is a statewide grassroots coalition that advocates for social justice issues," Nguyen said. "We provide civic engagement, educational workshops on health and workers' rights, and lead policy campaign efforts."

One of her significant policy efforts was Assembly Bill 2444, known as the Justice in Beauty Bill, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee. The bill aimed to enhance language access for labor rights materials and required in-language announcements for licensed manicurists when labor laws changed. Though the bill was held in appropriations, Nguyen found the process invaluable.

"It was an empowering experience to mobilize our community members—our 'aunties' as we call them—to Sacramento for lobby days," she said. "They shared their testimonies and learned how to advocate for themselves in legislative meetings."

Nguyen, whose second language is Vietnamese, played a crucial role in ensuring the policy language was accessible to community members. "Policy terms can be jargony, so translating them in a way that maintains their full meaning was a challenge," she said. "But it was necessary to ensure our members understood their rights and could advocate for themselves."

Navigating the Present and Looking Ahead

Nguyen continues to engage in advocacy beyond her work, participating in community actions and rallies. "I find solace in spaces where people understand the work we do," she said. "Being in community spaces, talking about real issues, and engaging in creative outlets like music and drawing helps me navigate these challenging times."

She also advises people to diversify their sources of news. "Western media narratives are often biased, so it's important to seek out diverse perspectives," she said. "Listen to students who are organizing on campus — they're in the belly of the beast when it comes to political activism."

Her advice for those looking to stay informed and engaged is simple: "Support local businesses, engage with your community, and do what you can to make a difference. Even small actions contribute to meaningful change."

Nguyen's journey from social work to policy advocacy exemplifies how grassroots activism can influence systemic change. As she continues her work at the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, she remains committed to uplifting marginalized communities and ensuring their voices are heard in policymaking spaces.

Resources from the CA Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative

How to protect yourself from ICE at your home, in public and in the workplace (English and Vietnamese)

Reports from CA Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative

Travel Journal - Cruise The Heart Of Europe 2025

May 6 - 21, 2025

Photos taken by the tour group

*UCLA Alumni Travel Group Photo in Cologne, Germany*

UCLA Alumni Travel cruised through the heart of Europe on a 14-night journey along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Bruins explored five countries: The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, with stops in iconic cities like Vienna, Budapest and Amsterdam. Alumni enjoyed guided tours, immersive local experiences and stunning scenery, all from the comfort of a first-class river boat.

If you enjoy river cruising through the heart of Europe, you’ll love the Holiday Markets Cruise along the festive Rhine River. Feel the magic of this seven-night journey offering the same first-class experience, this time set against the backdrop of charming towns dressed up for the holidays.

Waterland Bike Ride - Amsterdam, Netherlands

Documentation Center Exhibit - Nuremberg, Germany

Schnitzel Lunch - Nuremberg, Germany

Wurzburg Residenz - Wurzburg, Germany

Walking Tour - Cologne, Germany

Passau - Germany

Cheesemaking Demo - Amsterdam, Netherlands

Apple Strudel Making

Wachau Valley Cycling - Durnstein

Kitchen Tour Aboard Cruise Ship

True Bruin Traditions Keeper - 2025

We recently recognized graduates who fulfilled all of the True Bruin Traditions Keeper qualifications ahead of their graduation with a special ceremony! The evening honored their program completion, highlighted memories from each tradition and awarded recipients one-of-a-kind medals to be worn at commencement. We can't wait to see their continued involvement as UCLA's newest and most spirited alumni!

2025 UCLA Awards

Since 1946, UCLA has paid tribute to its most distinguished luminaries who have lit the way for UCLA's brightest stars to shine. From larger-than-life legends to community heroes, UCLA Awards are bestowed upon Bruins who have brought great honor to the university and whose contributions impact the world.

The 2025 ceremony was on Saturday, May 17.

For more information on UCLA Awards and the 2025 recipients: https://alumni.ucla.edu/awards/

Bruins Business 100 Reception - 2025

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Fireside Chat

On May 12 2025, UCLA Alum hosted an inspiring evening with Bruin legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as he launches his powerful new memoir, We All Want to Change the World: My Journey Through Social Justice Movements from the 1960s to Today. As part of UCLA Alum and the UCLA Student Alumni Association’s annual I ♥ UCLA Week, The UCLA community was invited to hear the NBA icon, bestselling author, and lifelong advocate for equality reflect on the experiences that have shaped his life and activism.