The inaugural, all-student "We are Aggie Pride" board of directors helped raise more than $30,000 in short-term financial for fellow students in 2011-12. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis photo)

I am thrilled to share the exciting news that philanthropic support for UC Davis for the 2011-12 fiscal year exceeded more than $132 million, making this the sixth year in a row that we have surpassed $100 million! As you know, we announced the public launch of the The Campaign for UC Davis in October 2010 with a goal to inspire 100,000 donors to contribute $1 billion by 2014. The latest commitments helped bring the university to more than 80 percent of our goal and, as of June 30, the campaign had generated $826 million in gifts to advance excellence in research, scholarship and public service.

I came to UC Davis three years ago with a vision to not only build on our accomplishments, but also to ensure that more students have access to a world-class education in this turbulent economy. The generosity of our donors has made a remarkable impact on our university. I ask that you join me in thanking our supporters and invite you to read more about this year’s philanthropic highlights.

New students let out a cheer during the New Student Celebration.

Last weekend, thousands of new Aggies – many with help from their parents – moved in to UC Davis. Tuesday, I had the opportunity to see nearly 4,500 of those new faces at the second annual New Student Celebration – an exciting, fast-paced program designed to welcome first-time freshmen and transfer students to a four–year college campus.

While I waited for my turn to speak, I watched the student performances, special guest speakers and read the text messages that students eagerly sent in as they flashed on the big screens in The ARC Pavilion. When I got up to speak, I asked students if they knew what a chancellor did, and many of them looked a bit puzzled. I told them that it is my job to worry. I worry about them like a mom – only a mom of more than 30,000 kids! As chancellor, I worry about whether they eat, study and about their safety. I also worry about them getting jobs after they leave UC Davis.

After the event, I went out to the barbeque and resource fair and met and talked to many students. I check out all of the available services we have on our campus and I even took a photo with the Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association.

Chancellor Linda Katehi poses with the Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association.

As we kick off the new school year, I want to wish all of our new and returning students much success. I encourage you to study hard, but also have fun along the way. Welcome back, Aggies!

Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi and Margrit Mondavi during the reception following the UC Davis Convocation in the Mondavi Center.

The new school year has begun at UC Davis! Monday, alongside hundreds of members of the UC Davis community and supporters, we celebrated the arts at our annual Fall Convocation. This year’s event was extra special because we were also celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

The program consisted of several musical performances and guest speakers, including Margrit Mondavi, who has been a great supporter of the arts at UC Davis. She, Barbara Jackson and many other generous philanthropists have made it possible for students, faculty, staff and our surrounding community to have access to a first-rate venue like the Mondavi Center right here in Davis. And this is just the beginning – in a few years, we will also welcome the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art right next door. I am also happy to report that our music department recital hall is making good progress and we hope to raise the necessary funds to provide a place for our music students and faculty to perform.

This year’s Fall Convocation was a time to celebrate the arts on our campus, and also to highlight the integral role they play in our students’ education. It was a wonderful event to launch us into our new school year and also to help celebrate our world-class Mondavi Center.

It’s been an exciting week for UC Davis, and yesterday, we received some more great news – we are one of six recipients to be awarded a $1 million grant in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s 2012 i6 Challenge Grant competition. In a creative collaboration with the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance, or SARTA – a co-recipient of the grant – we plan to establish a new Clean AgTech Innovation Center that will allow us to continue innovating and contributing to the economic development in our region.

Please take a moment to read more about what this grant means for our university and share your thoughts on this tremendous news.

UC Davis rose a spot in the magazine’s 2013 “Best Colleges” rankings, up from No. 9 a year ago.

By now, many of you have already heard or read the good news about our school: U.S. News & World Report named UC Davis the nation’s No. 8-ranked public university! That’s one notch up from the No. 9 spot last year — and we owe this achievement to our wonderful faculty, students, staff and supporters.

On Wednesday, when the story broke, hundreds of proud Aggies and supporters shared the news on various social media sites – including our own UC Davis Facebook page. The entire UC Davis community has a reason to be proud! I look forward to continuing to work together to help our university continue to rise among the nation’s best.