Enriched scholarships, empowered undergraduate futures
Students benefit more than financially from scholarship support
By Kayla McCormack | May 7, 2025
Scholarships are hugely important in supporting students on their academic journeys. In addition to alleviating financial burdens, they also allow students to focus more fully on academics, internships and extracurricular activities. During the 2023–24 academic year, 64% of UCLA undergraduates received need-based scholarship or grant aid. In many cases, scholarships make higher education an option for students where it wouldn’t have been otherwise.
The UCLA Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment is dedicated to supporting students through the application process for many scholarships, including helping them find and win scholarships, prepare for interviews in workshops and receive one-on-one counseling services.
CSSE also administers a selection of scholarships at UCLA that offer a stewarded experience for students. These enriched scholarships provide more than just monetary assistance: they are committed to holistic student development, offering a gateway to support systems that bolster students in school and in life.
One of these awards is the Junamici Scholarship, which was founded in 2017 thanks to the Junamici Foundation. This award covers the full cost of attendance and is open to entering first-year students in the UCLA College’s Division of Humanities and/or the UCLA International Institute who are majoring or minoring in foreign languages.
Lev Afonine, a third-year student double majoring in economics and Russian with a minor in statistics, says receiving the Junamici Scholarship has opened a lot of opportunities for him on campus. While some of his friends are working outside jobs to afford their education, the scholarship has allowed him to focus on academics and extracurricular activities.
“When I was applying for college, the expectation was that I was going to work one or two part-time jobs and take out a loan or two to pay for my education. When I got the notification that I won this scholarship, I realized I’d be able to do the fun things in college, like clubs and internships, during the school year. Now, being in college, I have all the resources that come with the Junamici Scholarship. That support has been phenomenal in helping me road map my future.”
—LEV AFONINE, JUNAMICI SCHOLAR
“Every day I come in with the mentality that I’m here for a reason — I’ve been granted a really great opportunity, and I want to make the most of it,” Afonine said. “I’m taking a rigorous course load. I’ve joined three clubs and am on the executive board of two. I launched a startup with a couple of friends, and I’m a campus ambassador for Perella Weinberg Partners, where I’ll be interning this summer.”
Beyond the generous financial award, the Junamici Scholarship offers individual mentorship. By providing this comprehensive support, CSSE’s administrators help students navigate challenges and seize every opportunity during their time at UCLA.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with each Junamici scholar during their four-year tenure at UCLA,” said Angela Deaver Campbell, assistant dean and executive director of CSSE. “Each scholar is an exceptional individual who will make this world a better place. Thanks to the generous contribution of our donors, our Junamici scholars’ futures are as bright as the sun.”
Quarterly check-ins with a dedicated mentor provide scholars with a sense of belonging and accountability, while counseling services offer both personal and academic guidance to help them overcome obstacles and reach new milestones.
Gustavo Calva Hernández, a fourth-year global studies major and global health minor, reflected on how impactful the one-on-one support offered by the Junamici Scholarship has been during his time at UCLA.
“The financial support that the Junamici Scholarship has offered me is beyond words. Without the scholarship, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to attend college in general, so being given a scholarship to cover my full tuition and funds has been a true blessing that I am grateful for. Additionally, I have also been grateful to experience things outside of classes and other curriculums because I am not burdened with having to spend time with a part-time job to afford college.”
—GUSTAVO CALVA HERNÁNDEZ, JUNAMICI SCHOLAR
“I feel like having that quarterly check-up truly does help me stay on track with my academic goals,” said Calva Hernández, who is studying for the LSAT and hopes to enroll in law school in the future with a potential focus on studying international law. “My second year, I had a difficult winter quarter. I talked to Angela about my concerns and the personal issues I struggled with during that quarter, and she took the time to listen and motivate me to make some changes that would benefit me in the upcoming quarter. I was able to finish that spring with a 4.0 GPA thanks to her advice. That type of connection and support really makes a key difference from one quarter to the next.”
Mac Harris, associate director of operations for CSSE, emphasized that these enriched experiences are deeply tied to CSSE’s mission.
“We not only want students to afford their educations and graduate with less debt,” he said, “we want to guide them toward their best possible UCLA experience, one that equips them to succeed academically, fully access the richness and diversity that the school offers, and translate that into opportunities beyond graduation.”
The additional support fosters confidence, skills and resilience that can benefit scholars long after they leave campus. For some scholars, this may mean finding an internship in a field that they are passionate about, while for others it might mean establishing connections that lead to exciting research opportunities.
Natalia Mochernak, a Junamici scholar and first-year student in the social sciences division, is a native speaker of Russian who is interested in exploring majors in communication and Spanish. Foreign languages are one of her biggest passions — in high school, she used her skills in this area to translate resources for other students into Spanish, Russian and Mandarin. She described the scholarship as life-changing: without it, she explained, she would have faced the burden of financing her education entirely on her own.
“I love UCLA. Every part of the school is exactly up my alley so far. I’ve loved all my classes; the professors and the TAs are so incredible. I’ve gotten involved in a bunch of things already, I’m doing Bruin Club Tennis and I’m writing for the Daily Bruin. None of that would be possible without the financial help of the Junamici Scholarship.”
—NATALIA MOCHERNAK, JUNAMICI SCHOLAR
“I would have had to get a job, or maybe even two. I would not have been able to participate in any extracurriculars or fully enjoy my college experience,” said Mochernak. “Junamici has really provided me the privilege of having free time to do what I’m passionate about.”
The impact of enriched scholarships like Junamici is too vast to measure — and the need is great.
“Ideally, every scholarship gift would ensure that its students be not only funded, but mentored and guided,” said Harris.
In addition to the Junamici Scholarship, UCLA students can apply for five other scholarships that offer an enriched experience.
Delson Scholarship
This scholarship provides $10,000 annually for incoming undergraduate students who graduated from Bell High School or Huntington Park High School, with preference for students who attended Nimitz Middle School. The award has supported 29 students since it was founded in 2004.
Donald R. Shepherd Undergraduate Scholarship
Established in 2010, this scholarship supports entering freshmen who have demonstrated financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Since its inception, the award has supported 91 students at UCLA.
Jim Varney Scholarship
This award, founded by famed Kentucky-born comedian Jim Varney, supports students from Kentucky or Tennessee with an interest in acting, drama or another performing art and demonstrable financial need. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, living expenses and incidentals for each scholar throughout their four years at UCLA. Since its establishment in 2003, 13 students have received the Jim Varney Scholarship.
Thelma L. Culverson Scholarship
This scholarship covers the full cost of in-state tuition and food and housing for students who graduated from University High School in West Los Angeles. Established in 1998, the Thelma L. Culverson Scholarship has supported 27 students.
The UCLA Chuck Lorre Scholars Program
The UCLA Chuck Lorre Scholars Program is dedicated to preparing undergraduate students who have exhibited financial need with the necessary tools to make an impact in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Launched last year and generously funded by “The Big Bang Theory” creator Chuck Lorre, the program expands and enhances the existing Big Bang Theory Scholarships at UCLA. It provides holistic support for scholars, offering academic enrichment, networking opportunities and more. Since its establishment in 2015, The Big Bang Theory Scholarship has supported 91 undergraduate students.
The UCLA Center for Scholarships and Scholar Enrichment, formerly the UCLA Scholarship Resource Center, is a dedicated resource for all UCLA undergraduates, supporting students in maximizing their educational opportunities through scholarships and enriching academic experiences.
CSSE assists students with identifying and applying for a wide range of scholarships, helping to reduce financial barriers and enhance academic success. Additionally, it provides resources and guidance to foster personal growth, professional development and community engagement.
Through personalized advising, workshops and support services, CSSE empowers students to succeed during their time at UCLA and beyond. Each year, students supported by CSSE win over $500,000 in scholarships.
