Scholar Achievements

Members of the University Relations committee of ARCS Foundation’s San Diego chapter visit our university academic partners each year to distribute the Scholar Awards our chapter has acquired for their benefit in the past year.  Every donated dollar from our generous community, whether from corporations, foundations, individuals, or the proceeds from ARCS endowments, are distributed to students, with all operating overhead covered by the chapter.

My first experience at such a gathering occurred in 2015 at UC San Diego when Chancellor Pradeep Khosla and the University’s selected awardees gathered to greet us and receive their awards.  As we mingled following the official check presentation, I asked a Scholar standing over by the refreshments table, “What will you be doing with your award?” He answered, “It comes at a perfect time. I am going to use it to apply for a patent for something I’ve been working on in the lab.” I was impressed, but admittedly dubious that this could actually come to fruition. 

To my delight, my doubts were put to rest on reconnecting with Dave Nelles on LinkedIn two years later. Twice, he traveled to Singapore to consult with scientific collaborators and raise funds for his start-up.  And now he has put together, with his mentoring professor, Dr. Gene Yeo, Ph.D., MBA, the company he was then dreaming of.

I am so happy to connect you, in turn, to Dave Nelles, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer of Locanabio.com - the successful result of $7,500 well-invested and well-deserved.

Future NASA Rovers Could Be Sporting New Gears, Thanks To Work By UC San Diego Alumni.

Click here to view story featuring San Diego ARCS Alum, Laura Anderson.

"This is an incredible honor and privilege.  Being a graduate student can be a long and lonely road, but this is some light at the end of the tunnel.  I am proud to have the support of ARCS!!!"

"Being an ARCS Scholar is a great honor and it means that I can focus on my research efforts without thinking of financial strain.  It is also, more importantly, an opportunity to network and meet other talented and successful members of our research community."

"ARCS Scholarship has strengthened my commitment to scientific exploration and reinvigorated my dedication to using scientific research to benefit my community."

"I am proud to be an ARCS Scholar, because it means that the work and research I have been doing is being recognized as novel and worthwhile.  This recognition gives me confidence and drive to move forward."

"It is just one big uplifting experience - the community and money."

"ARCS is enabling me to achieve my career goals.  It allows me to focus on research without worrying about bills.  I now have the freedom to attend additional classes and conferences relevant to my career, but not to my research."

"Being an ARCS Scholar means being connected to a broad, diverse technical community, and being supported by people who recognize the importance of scientific research."

"It has given me the opportunity to excel academically.  Additionally, the amazing people that are part of the organization have given valuable advice in terms of career opportunities."

"ARCS has been a wonderful support for me for the past year.  The encouragement and their mission have been inspiring and a pleasure to be part of.  I’ve gained confidence and enthusiasm for my research through their support."

"There’s a great community of other honorable ARCS Scholars, and I’m proud to be considered a colleague.  I’m so happy to be able to say I’m an ARCS Scholar and to see how it will help my future career."

"I am proud to have been noticed out of all my peers for the quality and promise of my work.  The support allows me to more freely enjoy my time in graduate school and in consequence, allows me to devote more stress-free time to my work."

"Support from ARCS means the ability to focus on research that is meaningful to me, while not having to worry about day-to-day finances, and has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people."

"It is an honor to be recognized as an ARCS Scholar at Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego.  The impact that your contributions have made to my life and my research as a graduate student are truly immense, and I am very grateful. With your support, I hope to advance the ARCS mission to further science and technology in the United States and in the world."

"Your generous donation to the ARCS Foundation is extremely appreciated.  The amount I will receive over the next two academic quarters will provide me an opportunity to travel to an important conference in Tokyo this coming July.  Without your generous donation, I would not have had this opportunity to travel and, as a consequence, the important talks and networking opportunities available at this conference would have been lost. The importance and influence of your donation are not easily measured; nevertheless, for me, the receiving of this award is priceless.  Thank you with all of my heart.  This award has inspired in me the importance of philanthropy, and I hope that one day I can be in a position to sponsor an enthusiastic Scholar, just as the Grady Endowment has sponsored me."

"Thank you so much for your support through the Virginia Lynch Grady Endowment Fund.  It is an honor to be recognized as an ARCS Scholar at Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego.  The impact that your contributions have made to my life and my research as a graduate student are truly immense, and I am very grateful. With your support, I hope to advance the ARCS mission to further science and technology in the United States and in the world."

"Thank you very much for the ARCS scholarship!  This award allows me to focus on my research without financial burden.  Last year I submitted five manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals, competed in the March Madness prediction competition placing in the top 10%, and presented a poster for ACSESS.  Most of these accomplishments were in part due to the ARCS award. I also love being a part of a community so supportive and encouraging. The annual ARCS Year Dinner last year was wonderful and I look forward to this year’s dinner."