César E. Chávez Celebration Award and Student Essay Contest

Each year, the UC San Diego César E. Chávez Committee honors individuals for furthering Chávez’s ideals in their communities and awards scholarships to UC San Diego undergraduate essay contest winners.

Award Recipients

The UC San Diego César E. Chávez Awards recognize individuals who uphold the legacy of Chávez by giving back to the community and advocating for the rights of the voiceless and underserved.

2003: Carlos and Linda LeGerrette

2005: Claudia Smith

2006: Herman Baca

2007: Victor Nieblas (alumni) Olivia Puentes-Reynolds (community)

2008: Eva Melendez Bustos (alumni), Dr. Alberto Ochoa (community)

2009: Patrick Velasquez (staff), Christopher Yanov (alumni), MANA de San Diego (community)

2010: Anthony Valladolid (staff), Delia Pacheco (alumni), Isidro Ortiz (community)

2011: Agustin Orozco (staff), Juan Astorga (alumni), Tommie Camarillo (community)

2012: Lourdes Felix (staff), Macedonio Arteaga (alumni), Lidia Martinez (community)

2013: Belinda Zamacona (staff), Jessica Lopez (Alumni), Evelya Rivera (community)

2014: Haydee Cervantez (staff), Jose Franco Garcia, ’04 (alumni), Isidro Ortiz (community)

2015: Cecilia Ubilla (staff), Tommy Ramirez, ’01 (alumni), Dr. Maria Senour (community)

2016: Katherine Garcia, ’07 (staff). Pablo Inzunza Velasquez, ’07 (alumni), Alberto “Beto” Vasquez, ’14 (community)

2017: Jorge Mariscal (faculty), Nora Bodrian (staff), Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez (community)

2018: Oscar Mena (staff), Sonia Garcia Avelar, ’17 (alumni), Carmen Chavez, Casa Cornelia (community)

2019: Ralph Dauphin (staff), Sofia Salgado Robitaille, ’92 (community)

2021: Frances Contreras (staff), Selina Calvo Lugo (alumni), The Chicano Park Steering Committee (community)

2022: Frank Silva (staff), Maria Salgado (alumni), Maria Figueroa (community)

2023: Mario Garibay (staff), Melissa Diaz (alumni), Sinai Cota (community)

2024: Izzy Narvaez (staff), Lizzy Gomesz, (alumni), Luis Ricardo Castellanos (community)

Student Essay Contest

In honor of César E. Chávez, UC San Diego is offering essay contest prizes to current UC San Diego undergraduate students who can demonstrate contributions to equity and social justice at UC San Diego, empowering the Chicanx/Latinx community and embodying the Chávez legacy. Students can apply using the following link by March 2, 2025: https://ucsd.academicworks.com/opportunities/5303. All UC San Diego undergraduate students are eligible.

Winners will be announced soon.