University of California, Los Angeles
Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences
Commencement and Awards Celebration
Sunday, June 14, 2026 · 12:30 p.m.
Program
12:30 p.m. — Graduation Formalities
- Welcome Lunch
- Opening RemarksDr. Jonathan Aurnou — EPSS Chair and Professor
- Special Guest SpeakerDr. Laurie Leshin, University Professor for Space Futures; Senior Fellow, University Design Institute, Arizona State University
- Salutatory RemarksSara Kang
- Presentation of Graduate Degree CandidatesDr. Bjorn Benneke — EPSS Professor and Graduate Advisor
- Presentation of Undergraduate AwardsDr. Mackenzie Day — EPSS Associate Professor
- Presentation of Baccalaureate Degree CandidatesDr. Mackenzie Day — EPSS Associate Professor
- Closing RemarksDr. Jonathan Aurnou
Bachelor of Arts Candidates
Earth & Environmental Science
- Aparicio, Melissa Rose (Chicana and Chicano Studies)
- Ayala, Kiana Leann
- Babaian, Erlin (Global Health)
- Buhler, Carolina
- Glass, Peter Samuel
- Kang, Sara (Science Education)
- Keiser, Mckenna Sage (Environmental Systems & Society)
- Kindopp, Ava Mae (Environmental Systems & Society)
- Kloes, Ashton Phillip
- Lee, David
- Morales-Lopez, Alan
- Nearn, Chase McCormick
- Rands, Pierce Edwards
- Winn, Jordan Alexandar
Bachelor of Science Candidates
Geology
- Chador, Jacob
- Hulten, Ava Claire
- Kuhn, Natasha Dara
- Lewis, Dean (Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution)
- Morales, Ivory Sativa
- Ortiz-Stock, Sarina Rose
- Paz, Amanda (Chicana and Chicano Studies)
- Rudenky, Nicole Sophie
- Streater, Ivonna Galaviz (Geochemistry)
Geophysics
- Greene, Gemma Naomi
- Hwang, Caitlyn (Asian Languages)
Engineering Geology
- Dinata, Shanya
- Kawamoto, Grant Shigeru
- Naser, Noor
- Sotelo, Angelina
Minor Candidates
- Cuevas, Itzel — Earth & Environmental Science (Biology)
- Hyde, Christian Lucas — Earth & Environmental Science (Environmental Science)
- Riddell, Ansley Elizabeth — Earth & Environmental Science (Environmental Science)
- Symanski, Rowan Faith — Earth & Environmental Science (Biology)
- Angeles, Sophia — Geochemistry (Climate Science)
- Nayuki, Hinata Alice — Geochemistry (Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics)
- Ayala, Kiana Leann — Geology (Earth & Environmental Science)
- Cooper, Jordan Brock — Geology (Anthropology)
- Tang, Henry — Geochemistry (Applied Mathematics)
- Veteto, Hazel Jean — Geology (Geography, Environmental Studies)
Master of Science Candidates
Geochemistry
- Abe, Hugo
- Brown, Cameron
- Marcum, Sarah
- Thomason, Rhegan
- Vetushko, George
Geophysics & Space Physics
- Hu, Lan
- Preston, Sarah
- Yuliang, Ding
Planetary Science
- Chang, Miranda
- Getman, BreeAnn
- Parks, Maxwell
- Zhang, Wenyu
- Zlimen, Evan Teresa
Doctor of Philosophy Candidates
Geophysics & Space Physics
Kamalerdinov, Sergei
Asymmetric Drift-Orbit Bifurcation: Models and Observations
Advisor: Dr. Vassilis Angelopoulos
Mohanna, Saeed
Advancing Tsunami Source Imaging and Illuminating Drivers of Seismicity Before and After Large Earthquakes
Advisor: Dr. Peng Meng
Webster, Kyle
Ultra-low Frequency Waves at Mars: Exploring the Connection Between Surface and Space Through InSight and MAVEN Observations
Advisors: Dr. Hao Cao, Dr. Yingjuan Ma
Geology
Bogumil, Matthew
The Mantle Crux: Solid-Earth Controls on the Long-Term Carbon Cycle
Advisor: Dr. Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni
Knighton, Jade
Multigeochemical Proxies for Paleobiological Assessment of Thermoregulation, Hard Part Mineralization, Climate, and Ecology of Mesozoic Non-Avian Dinosaurs and Their Relatives
Advisor: Dr. Aradhna Tripati
Upadhyay, Deepshikha
Applications of Carbonate Clumped Isotope Paleothermometry in Plio-Pleistocene Paleosols from the Afar Region of Eastern Africa
Advisor: Dr. Aradhna Tripati
Widmer, Jacob
Surface Change on Modern Mars as a Record of Atmospheric Drivers
Advisor: Dr. Mackenzie Day
Geochemistry
Marcum, Sarah
Structure, Phase Stability, and Transport in Hydrogen-Bearing Magma Ocean
Advisor: Dr. Edward Young
Psarakis, Catherine Ann
Probing the Interior Structure of Europa and Ganymede with Magnetic Induction: From Molecular-Scale Ocean Conductivity to Spacecraft Observations
Advisor: Dr. Abby Kavner
Planetary Science
Dragulet, Francis
Magnetic Field Generation in Earth and Super-Earths: The Role of Iron
Advisor: Dr. Lars Stixrude
Jhoti, Elisha
From Orbit to Ground: Using Surface Roughness to Investigate Surface Processes on the Moon and Mars
Advisor: Dr. David Paige
Whittaker, Emerson Afton
Asteroid Discovery and Characterization at Long Wavelengths
Advisor: Dr. Jean-Luc Margot
Zhang, Zijin
Kinetic-Scale Solar Wind Current Sheets: Statistical Characteristics and Their Role in Energetic Particle Transport
Advisor: Dr. Vassilis Angelopoulos
Undergraduate Awards
Salutatorian
- Kang, Sara — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
Academic Merit — Majors
- Chandor, Jacob — Constantine & Perina Panunzio Earth & Space
- Hwang, Caitlyn — Constantine & Perina Panunzio Earth & Space
- Dinata, Shanya — Constantine & Perina Panunzio Earth & Space
Academic Merit — Minors
- Hyde, Christian Lucas — John W. & France R. Hardin Scholarship
- Nayuki, Hinata Alice — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
- Veteto, Hazel Jean — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
Summer Field Scholarships
- Alvarado, Juan — Clem Nelson Fund
- Chador, Jacob — Walter S. Harris Summer Field Endowment
- Collete, Jane — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
- Dowd, Leda — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
- Hafner, Gavin — Clarence A. Hall Jr. Scholarship
- Kawamoto, Grant — Clarence A. Hall Jr. Scholarship
- Morales, Ivory — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
- Rands, Pierce — Clarence A. Hall Jr. Scholarship
- Soares, Ronja — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
- Sotelo, Angelina — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
- Stone, Mason — Clem Nelson Fund
- Vargas, Lorena — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship
- Xie, Tiantian — Deane Oberste-Lehn Scholarship