The students celebrated the end of their UC writing academies with a picnic at Lake Yosemite, near UC Merced Friday.
The goal of the writing academy is to help incoming seniors write an effective UC personal statement for their admissions application.
The students also had a chance to meet with UC Merced professors and learn about financial aid opportunities and other aspects of campus life.
A record 350 students from all across the Valley took part in the writing academies this year.
