News - Cal Alumni Association

Lair of the Golden Bear

Chancellor Lyons Talks Lair of the Golden Bear

Chancellor Lyons, who’s known for carrying his guitar around camp, shared his personal stories, reflected on how the Lair fuels Cal spirit, and offered some words of wisdom for the staffers and campers to come.

chancellor rich lyons and spouse jen lyons

Chancellor Lyons and his wife, Jen, smile big, with Pinecrest Lake sparkling softly in the background.

Cal Live event with Poulomi Saha as the speaker

The Latest

_{Kol walks off the tarmac after greeting Governor Tim Walz, geared up for whatever comes next.}

Lair of the Golden Bear

Advance Team Member Kol Van Giesen Just Brought His Lair Staffing Skills to the Campaign Trail

The constant go, go, go,…working until the job is done, and not just done, but done above and beyond, was important both in Pinecrest and on the trail.

Two fans stand side by side, one in a “Beat Stanford” shirt and the other in a “Beat Cal” shirt.

_{The Cal-Stanford collegiate rivalry is one of the oldest in the country, with each school competing during the Big Game for the right to bring home the Stanford Axe. / Courtesy of Kahlil Gray}

Cal Culture

What’s One Good Thing You Can Say About Stanford?

In the spirit of good sportsmanship, Cal alums share their Stanford appreciations to celebrate the healthy rivalry ahead of the 2024 Big Game.

_{Paloma Raffle, who spent her first summer working on the Art Crew, proudly holds up a Lair tent she crafted in the Art Arbor. / CJ Poloka / Cal Alumni Association}

Lair of the Golden Bear

Why 2024’s First-Year Staffers Can’t Wait to Return Next Summer

I asked a couple of students who staffed their first summer at the Lair last year why they’re coming back—and why they can’t wait to do it all over again.

All News

Alumni Chapters

_{The Cal Alumni Club of Chicago welcomes incoming students. / Courtesy of Cal Alumni Club of Chicago}

Chapters

Meeting and Greeting the Newest Golden Bears

From New England to Southern California, our Alumni Chapters gave incoming Golden Bears a warm welcome.

_{Demetrios Boutris ’83 with Fritz, his longhaired dachshund, in Central Park. / Courtesy of Demetrios Boutris}

Chapters

Demetrios Boutris ’83 Is Cultivating Leadership

Scholar of the world, corporate lawyer, businessman, and trusted advisor, Demetrios Boutris ’83 wears many hats, but most of all, is a leader in the Cal community.

_{Samantha Lewis, Ph.D., UC Berkeley assistant professor of cell biology. / J Wang}

Chapters

Dr. Samantha Lewis Awarded the 2023 Prytanean Faculty Enrichment Award

The Prytanean Alumnae Chapter honors Dr. Samantha Lewis for her outstanding scholarship and dedication to mentorship.

Cal Culture

Students, faculty, and families walking around Sather Gate and Sproul Plaza.

_{UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza filled with students and family ahead of the school year. / Cal Alumni Association}

Cal Culture

The Cal Alumni Association’s Year In Events: 2024

In all of 2024, the Cal community has done incredible things, from moon travel to the Olympic games to discussing AI’s impact on our future. In case you missed them, here are some Cal highlights from 2024.

Kevin Lee ’12 posing with his business partner Kevin Chanthasiriphan.

_{Kevin Lee ’12 (left) with his business partner Kevin Chanthasiriphan. The two Kevins launched their company immi, a healthy instant ramen alternative, in 2021. / immi}

Cal Culture

Valuing Family and Social Impact Launched Kevin Lee into Entrepreneurship

immi co-founder Kevin Lee ’12 practiced his business skills and learned about the social sector at UC Berkeley.

Scholars

_{Co-owners Linda Sanchez ’14 and Jesus Chavez ’13 pose inside of Casa de Chocolate. / Courtesy of Linda Sanchez}

Career

Sometimes, Your Career After Cal Is Like a Box of Chocolates

Coming to UC Berkeley with a passion for social justice and advocacy, Linda Sanchez ’14 found a career path that aligned with those values: co-owning a chocolate shop.

taap scholarship recipients for the 2023–2024 academic year

News

Meet the 2023 – 2024 Cohort of The Achievement Award Program (TAAP)

The Achievement Award Program supports high-achieving, community-minded, low-income, first-generation college students in their pursuit of a UC Berkeley education. The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) congratulates all twenty-two members of our incoming 2023 – 2024 Alumni Scholar cohort.

_{(L to R): Samantha Cruz, Cody James McCook-AhTave, and Paloma Saldana}

News

Meet the 2023 – 2024 Cal Alumni Association Native American Scholarship Recipients

The award recognizes UC Berkeley students for their leadership, community involvement, and contributions to the Indigenous community.

2023–2024 African American Initiative Scholars (L to R): Jayden Cox, Nimrod B., Kellsey Ogu

_{Courtesy of (L to R): Jayden Cox, Nimrod B., and Kellsey Ogu}

News

Meet the 2023 – 2024 African American Initiative Scholars

The AAI Scholarship is part of CAA and UC Berkeley's ongoing commitment to Black and African American student success.

Travel

_{Dianne Fukami ’77 / Courtesy of Dianne Fukami}

Cal Culture

There’s No ‘Medium’ Switch for Journalist and Travel Lecturer Dianne Fukami ’77

Journalist Dianne Fukami ’77 credits UC Berkeley’s investment in her as a student for her continued loyalty to all things Cal, including the Cal Discoveries Travel program.

A group of 9 people holding a Cal flag and posing in front of the London bridge.

_{Travelers on Cal Discoveries Travel's Inside the London Theatre Scene 2022 tour / Cal Alumni Association}

News

How to Get the Most Out of London’s Theater Scene

For centuries, London has entertained the world with its vibrant performing arts scene—follow these tips to immerse yourself in the London theater experience.

Travel

Tour Lecturer Interview Series

Cal Discoveries Travel plans and operates educational travel opportunities around the world. We partner with UC Berkeley-affiliated lecturers to enhance the strong educational component of the trips. We invite you to dive deeper with these interviews to learn more about the lecturers, how they prepare for the trips, and the role they play while on tour.

Travel with Cal Discoveries