I want to update you all on my wins throughout my time at University of California San Diego. In June 2025, I graduated with a dual major in Political Science & Data Analytics (BS) and Global Health (BA) + a minor in Climate Change Studies.

Through my time at UCSD, plant-based and sustainable food advocacy was extremely important to me. Luckily, I was able to work at UCSD’s Sustainability Team and serve as a Sustainable Food Procurement Fellow through UC’s Office of the President. With these roles, I worked on a range of sustainability projects including creating plant-based educational resources, increasing plant-based options at UCSD’s markets, and most recently (as of Sep. 2025): eliminating the upcharge on ALL plant-based milks served at UCSD’s coffee bars!

Now that I have graduated, I hope to continue plant-based advocacy throughout my career.  I am so grateful for the support from VRG since my time in high school, and really appreciate all you do!

See Arpi’s VRG scholarship information: https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/05/17/california-student-arpi-keshishian-wins-10000-vegetarian-resource-group-scholarship/

For information on other winners and applying to VRG’s annual scholarship contest, see https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm