UROP Honors Claire Trevor School of the Arts 2023 Undergraduate Mentors

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) held the annual UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium, where they presented the Chancellor's Award Recipients for Undergraduate Mentorship. The ceremony occurred on May 19, 2023, at the Bren Center, where winners of the Chancellor's Award from each of UCI's schools were recognized.

Lonnie Alcaraz, Professor of Lighting Design in the Department of Drama, received the 2023 Chancellor's Faculty Award for Undergraduate Mentorship for the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Aside from his teaching role, Alcaraz is a professional lighting designer with experience in regional theatres and national shows. He is also dedicated to producing Latinx productions and community-engaged theatre.

Heather Lee Echeverria, who completed her M.F.A. in acting in 2023, was named the 2023 Chancellor's Graduate Student Award Recipient for Undergraduate Mentorship for the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Echeverria had previously earned her B.A. in drama and received honors in acting in 2020, both from UCI. She recently showcased her talent as Mari in The Sweetheart Deal and as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Currently, she is part of the company performing for the New Swan Shakespeare Festival at UCI.

This year marked the 30th anniversary of UROP, celebrating the achievements of UCI undergraduate students in research under the theme "Celebrating 30 Years: Tradition and Vision." The event provided hundreds of undergraduates with the opportunity to present the results of their research or creative activities. The culminating awards ceremony recognized various mentors in the university community.

The mission of UROP is to integrate undergraduate students into the research culture of the University by facilitating collaboration between faculty and students on research projects. UROP fosters partnerships between students, faculty, corporate entities, and government agencies to prepare undergraduate researchers for future challenges and inspire them to develop a lifelong passion for discovery and inquiry-based learning. By providing professional research environments and promoting the development of career skills, UROP offers students unique opportunities to cultivate a wide variety of skills that will be valuable in any future career or educational pursuits.