Steven & Mia Kang Award

The UC Merced Steven & Mia Kang Leadership for Social Change Award

The Steven & Mia Kang Leadership for Social Change Award honors Steven and Mia Kang’s commitment to UC Merced students and inspires current students to become change agents in society. This award is presented annually to an outstanding student who has distinguished themselves through demonstrated leadership in advancing social change on campus and/or within the broader community.

Recipients of this award lead by example, working to address complex social challenges while uplifting others and fostering collective action. Their leadership reflects a deep commitment to equity, justice, and long-term systemic change.

Key Elements of Social Change Leadership

• Vision for Equity and Justice: Commitment to addressing societal, socioeconomic, and environmental issues.
• Collaborative Pursuits: Fostering collective problem-solving and shared ownership of solutions.
• Empowerment: Elevating others’ capacities and inspiring them to contribute to meaningful change.
• Systemic Thinking: Identifying and addressing root causes rather than focusing solely on symptoms.

Criteria to Consider

• The nominee has demonstrated leadership throughout their time at UC Merced.
• The nominee has been involved in work specific to social change at UC Merced and beyond.
• The nominee has demonstrated two or more of the key elements of social change leadership listed above.

Nomination Deadline

Nomination applications are due Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Nomination Information

Students, faculty, staff, and members of the UC Merced community are encouraged to submit nominations. Self-nominations are NOT accepted for this award.