The UC Davis Retirees Association (UCDRA) grants a career enhancement award to UC Davis staff employees who are furthering their education. The award is named after Lorena Herrig, who served UC Davis for 42 years and felt that having an education was very important. Applications for this award are made through Staff Assembly. The UCDRA partners with Staff Assembly to choose the recipients and process the awards. Read more about the endowment which finances this award.

2018 Lorena Herrig Career Enhancement Award: Arnon Erba, Agricultural and Resource Economics

I’ve been fascinated by computers ever since I was old enough to browse Craigslist for used hardware to fix old PCs. That hobby turned into a career in professional IT support, where I work with Windows, macOS, and Linux. At UC Davis, I’m a Linux system administrator in the Agricultural and Resource Economics department.
I am actively pursuing an associate’s degree in Computer Science through the Los Rios community college system. Eventually, I plan to transfer to UC Davis to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the same field. I am very grateful to be the recipient of a Staff Assembly Scholarship, and I appreciate having the financial support to further my educational goals.

Past Recipients

YearWinnerDescription
2020-2021Kyle Clayton, Graduate Center Coordinator, Graduate StudiesComplete MBA in Business Administration at CSU, Sacramento State
2020-2021Marcos Contreras, Pharmacist, Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital PharmacyComplete MBA at UC Davis, emphasis on business management and administration
2019-2020Stephanie Zarate, Student Services Associate, MathematicsObtain MS in Higher Education Leadership Program, CSU, Sacramento State
2018-2019Eugenia Wong, Web Application Developer, Information & Educational Technology 
2018-2019Arnon Erba, Systems Administrator, Agricultural and Resources Economics 
2017-2018Jenna Wilkerson, Pharmacypursuing a degree in management
2016-2017Hannah Chale, Diplomacy - International Conflict Managementpursuing a master's degree in Diplomacy - International Conflict Management
2015-2016Juanita Braxton, F. William Blaisdell Surgical Education Programpursuing a doctorate degree in Public Health
2014-2015Finlay Terhune, Shields Librarypursuing a master's degree in counseling psychology from the University of San Francisco
2013-2014Kawami Evans, Student Housingpursuing a PhD in educational Leadership and management from Drexel University
2011-2012Joyce Nochez, Acute Carepursuing a degree to advance from registered nurse to nurse practitioner
2010-2011Wendy Stoltz, UC Davis Extention; George Robertson, Graduate School of Management; and Donna Van Dolah, Seed Biotechnology Center 

More information about the UCDRA Scholarship Committee, including committee description and charge.