Take off your shoes and socks, the guest speaker asked 10 students in a recent class of the BioLaunch “Career Lab” at UC Davis.

“I was a little surprised,” laughed Madison Sainte-Agathe, who is majoring in molecular and medical microbiology.

Under the guidance of UC Davis Assistant Athletic Trainer Lisa Varnum, the students teamed up to examine how ankle muscles work, practiced wrapping simulated injuries and developed rehabilitation plans.

The University of California, Davis, is embarking on a major initiative to make career exploration and preparation accessible to all students as a matter of equity and social justice.

Through Aggie Launch, the university aims to foster opportunities so that all graduates — including those who are from low-income families, underrepresented minorities, first-generation college students and women — can experience meaningful, timely and gainful employment.

$1.75 Million goes to BioLaunch

The Koret Foundation has granted $4 million to undergraduate career-preparation programs across UC Davis. Part of Koret’s Higher Education Initiative, the grant will provide signifcant support for Aggie Launch, the Big Idea that integrates career exploration and readiness in the undergraduate experience.

Thanks to the generosity of over 700 donors, the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences set a new fundraising record during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, raising more than $11.5 million.

The BioLaunch Mentor Collective helps make the transition to the UC Davis campus easier for freshmen and transfer students. New students are paired with a returning UC Davis student, who can offer them advice and support across many areas of campus life.