The paper ‘Index Funds, Asset Prices, and the Welfare of Investors’ by UCLA Professor Bill Zame and coauthor Martin Schmalz was featured in the Anderson Review. The article featuring the paper can be found here.
UCLA Professor Till Von Wachter has received an award from The California Collaborative for Pandemic Recovery and Readiness Research for their research on how workers fared under different unemployment insurance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.The research will help to address evidence gaps in how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the health and wellbeing of communities throughout California.
Biography: Aravinth Ruppa, a second-year undergraduate student from the central coast of California, is currently majoring in Economics with a pre-medicine focus. He intends to pursue a double major in Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics. He plans to blend his unique background in economics and medicine to bring about positive impact on the healthcare industry to improve access to care for all patients. Aravinth is also a 3rd degree black belt in Karate and has been practicing martial arts for the last 14 years. In his free time he enjoys playing soccer, hiking, and going to the beach. Aravinth looks forward to continuing to explore Los Angeles and try all the different types of food the city has to offer.
Future Plans: In the upcoming academic year, Aravinth will continue his research in the Economics department, focusing on investigating water pollution levels and the corresponding water legislation. Additionally, he will be working in the cardiology laboratory at the Geffen School of Medicine, utilizing molecular biology research techniques to study therapies aimed at enhancing post-heart attack repair. Following his undergraduate studies, Aravinth intends to further his education by pursuing an MD (Doctor of Medicine) and an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in a medical school dual degree program. Aravinth’s aspiration is to blend his interests in medicine and healthcare to initiate meaningful change and improve access to care for patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
What this scholarship means to me? I feel honored and so thankful to have been chosen for the Venu and Ana Kotamraju Endowed Scholarship. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Kotamraju for their incredible generosity, which has given me confidence to continue to seek opportunities to gain tools that I can use to make a positive impact. This scholarship not only alleviates financial burdens but also inspires me to continue to learn and grow. I am truly appreciative of the chance to pursue my educational goals with the assistance of this scholarship, and I am committed to making the most of this privilege to achieve my aspirations.
Biography: Jason Lee is a fourth-year at UCLA, majoring in Economics and is committed to going into law school after graduation. He attained his passion for law after having completed three internships at two law firms and a courthouse, where he was able to get personally close to many people working in the field who have not only given him advice about the field but allowed him to see the much more humanistic parts of law that captivated him to begin with. For the school year of 2023-2024, he will continue involving himself in the legal field as a Research Assistant at the UCLA School of Law. At school he further tries to involve himself in student affairs, holding a position on the Undergraduate Council and as a Director of Finance for USAC’s Academic Affairs Commission. Apart from school, he thoroughly enjoys playing guitar, and his parents’ love serves as his greatest motivation.
Future Plans: Jason Lee strives to go into law school after his undergraduate education but aims to take a year of work before doing so. He believes that a knowledgeable and wide worldview is important for such a coordination and client-heavy field, and for the year of 2023-2024, he is applying for fellowships and work opportunities before entering to law school.
What this scholarship means to me?: Being recognized for the Robert D. and Margaret A. Wark Memorial Scholarship is a great honor. I have dedicated myself to succeed and build myself at college, and this award motivates me to work harder so that I may contribute my own to this academic community as well. I thank Robert D. and Margaret A. Wark for lending me this inspiration and positioning me well in my finances so that I may go forward after college and continue building my career.
Biography: Sukie Yeung is a rising junior majoring in Business Economics, with plans to minor in Statistics and Data Science Engineering. Originally from Vancouver, she is committed to driving impact through her pursuit of management consulting. On campus, Sukie serves as Vice President of the Global Research Consulting Group, partnering with local and international non-profits to promote Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. Furthermore, she interns with the LA Metro Chapter of Ascend to amplify AAPI representation in the realms of entertainment, finance, and business services. Outside of her professional pursuits, Sukie is an avid snowboarder and enjoys tackling challenging piano pieces.
Future Plans: This Fall, Sukie is focused on pursuing opportunities within management consulting and related fields, enthusiastic about the potential to make a meaningful impact through her work. In the long term, she intends to build a career within the consulting industry and remains open to the possibility of an MBA after a few years of work experience.
What this scholarship means to me? I am incredibly humbled and grateful to Donald Lipschutz and donors for their generosity and support. This scholarship means a lot to me, as it not only eases the financial burden of college, but also serves as a recognition of my dedication to my education and perseverance in the face of challenges. The scholarship embodies the incredible network of alumni and mentors who are invested in my success; I am committed to making the most of this opportunity for my personal growth and to continue to make meaningful contributions to the UCLA community.
Biography: Emily Roshan is a third-year student at UCLA majoring in Business Economics with a minor in Accounting. She is from San Diego, California. On campus, Emily works as a Reader/Teaching Assistant for upper-division accounting courses. She is also involved in campus organizations including LeGal at UCLA, Bruin Women in Business, Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies, American Cancer Society, and Bruin Bites Food Magazine. In her free time, Emily enjoys baking, going to the beach, and spending time with friends and family.
Future Plans: This summer, Emily was working at a financial consulting firm and will continue working for them during the year. Through this work experience, Emily has further explored her interests in accounting, finance, and consulting. Upon graduating from UCLA, Emily plans on applying to law school in order to pursue a career in law.
What this scholarship means to me? I am grateful to have been selected for the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. It is truly an honor to be selected by the Department of Economics and Mr. and Mrs. Shapiro. Along with this scholarship relieving me of financial burdens, it has encouraged me to continue working hard and pursuing my studies and passions. Being recognized for my efforts is extremely motivating and I look forward to giving back to the UCLA community.
Biography: Luke Garlick is a rising junior in the Economics department at UCLA. He is committed to his studies and executive position in the Bruin Capital Management investment club on campus. The past two years have taken him far from home, both physically and metaphorically. Hailing from a small rural town nestled in the redwoods of far Northern California, moving to LA was a rapid change of pace and climate, as well as a step into an unknown but much anticipated future. Growing up in a small, economically disadvantaged community, he didn’t fully realize how little he understood of the world and its possibilities. Moving to LA, and living, studying, and working with a diverse body of students from around the world, often with drastically different life experiences, and experiencing fantastic professors has made Luke realize how big the world is and that he can be part of helping to shape that world.
Future Plans: Luke is looking forward to applying for internships and programs throughout this academic year and the following summer. His plans include continuing to love and embrace his economics classes, pursuing a Data Science Engineering minor, and continuing his leadership role with his club. His interest in the economy and its intersection with the investing world will lead Luke throughout his college career and internships into the post-grad world. After graduation and the completion of internships, Luke is hoping to work for companies in the AI/autonomy field and possibly pursuing a future MBA. His ultimate aspirations lie in solving large economic, social, and environmental issues. Issues like how to retool workers for new roles in the A.I. future, how to build and expand our population centers without straining services, and how to build out infrastructure so that vast natural resources like wind and solar energy can be not only harvested but transmitted.
What this scholarship means to me? I cannot express enough gratitude for receiving this scholarship. After a hard two years of acclimating to college life, studying, and getting involved in my UCLA community, receiving this scholarship is really exciting, and my family is thrilled and proud. This significant financial contribution will help me continue my academic career, a rewarding but rather expensive endeavor, but one greatly aided not only by the generosity of Mr. Donald Lipschutz’s family and loved ones but also by the fabric of UCLA. This scholarship means much more to me than just helping to pay for school. Studying and stressing for a big test, rushing to finish assignments to not miss out on valuable time with friends and family, and making tough prioritizations are all costs of investing in your academics. These are costs that I do not take lightly and sometimes they feel like a very personal sacrifice for a grade entry in a database. This scholarship helps lighten that load. Instead of feeling regretful for missing out, I feel seen.
Biography: Yiyang is a rising junior at UCLA, majoring in Business Economics and Statistics and Data Science. He is an international student from Jinan, China. At UCLA, Yiyang has been keeping a good academic record in all his classes. Beyond classes, Yiyang has a wide range of hobbies and interests that allow him to embrace diverse community engagements. He serves as the vice president of Chinese Bruin Union, and is in charge of its newly-established academics department, where he plans to connect more academic and professional development resources on campus to the Chinese international student community. In the past two years, Yiyang is also a member of the UCLA Esports team, where he plays Hearthstone along with his two other genius teammates in UCLA Blue team. They have together reached octa-finalists in Hearthstone Collegiate Masters in 2022. In summer 2023, Yiyang served as the invited judge of the 2023 Debate and Speech National Championship that took place in Kunshan, China. Yiyang’s hobbies include swimming, playing badminton, and watching movies. He is also particularly interested in cooking recently.
Future Plans: Yiyang is currently searching for 2024 summer internship opportunities in accounting or financial advisory. After graduating from UCLA, he is planning to firstly gain some work experience in either financial advisory or statistical consulting to fully utilize his educational background of double-major in Business Economics and Statistics and Data Science. He wishes to gain some hands-on experience and deeper understanding in the world of finance and statistics, and he also plans to take this time to complete the CFA exam. After two to three years of working, he plans to pursue a Master of Finance degree to learn more about quantitative finance, and in the long-run pursue a career in private equity investment or asset management.
What this scholarship means to me? I am truly honored to receive the Harold R. Mortenson Endowed Scholarship fund. I would like to firstly express my sincere gratitude to the donors for their benevolent generosity and unwavering belief in my potential. I cannot emphasize more on how important and inspiring this scholarship means to me. As an international student with high tuition fees, this scholarship would undoubtfully help me to alleviate the financial burden that pursing higher education often entails, and allows me to focus more on my personal growth. Beyond the financial support, this scholarship serves as a validation of my academic aspirations and serves as a profound motivator to continually strive for excellence in my studies at UCLA. I would like to thank the donors again for their support.
