News from Occidental College
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June 10, 2026
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Media Arts & Culture (MAC) major and Obama Scholar Qingxi Yang ’28 bridges classroom learning with community engagement, collaboration, and public art in Los Angeles through Occidental College’s...
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June 8, 2026
/ Occidental College Newsroom
As co-president of the Law Society, Obama Scholar Raymond Arias ’26 has spent his college years reimagining what a pre-law club can look like at a small liberal arts college, ensuring it is not only a...
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March 20, 2026
/ Occidental College Newsroom
The Obama Scholars Program at Occidental College supports accomplished students who are passionate about driving positive change. Open to students in any field of study, the program seeks individuals...
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November 17, 2025
/ Occidental College Newsroom
From the Bluegrass State to Occidental College, Jaymes Griggs has found community and a path to leadership through science, civic engagement, and the Obama Scholars Program. And amid all this, he...
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November 6, 2025
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Practicing Spanish and learning peace and pura vida in Costa Rica: Julián's journey through the country with no army. With support from the Emma Maes Scholarship, I had the opportunity to explore...
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March 21, 2025
/ Occidental College Newsroom
The Obama Scholars Program at Occidental College supports accomplished students—particularly first-generation college students, veterans, and community college transfers—who are passionate about...
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April 22, 2024
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Occidental College has announced its 2024–25 cohort of Barack Obama Scholars, the prestigious leadership training program that seeks to empower exceptional students committed to the public good. Obama...
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October 26, 2023
Occidental College has completed its largest-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, raising more than $252 million for student scholarships, academic programs, campus beautification, and other high...
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July 26, 2023
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Through a series of leadership trainings and social events, a new cohort of Obama Scholars at Occidental develops skills and cohesion that will propel them through the College’s Obama Scholars Program...
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February 28, 2023
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Occidental College has announced its 2023-24 cohort of Barack Obama Scholars, the prestigious leadership training program that seeks to empower exceptional students committed to the public good. Obama...
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October 29, 2022
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Social media has had a huge impact on international diplomacy over the past decade--a reality that has played out most dramatically in Ukraine, career diplomat Kristina Kvien '87 P'20 told an...
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June 29, 2022
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Occidental College has announced its new cohort of Barack Obama Scholars, the prestigious leadership training program that has been re-imagined to make it available to more students based on their...
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February 23, 2021
/ Occidental College Newsroom
When after several years of corporate law practice Valerie Jarrett realized she had no passion for her work, she took a leap of faith and went to work for Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black...
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February 10, 2021
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Join Occidental College President Harry J. Elam, Jr. on Thursday, February 11 at 4pm PST for a conversation with Valerie Jarrett to discuss her time with the Obama Administration, her own commitment...
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April 28, 2020
/ Occidental College Newsroom
The prestigious fellowship will allow Noa—a double major in Comparative Studies in Literature & Culture and Critical Theory & Social Justice—to study the history of human rights with a group of...
Press Coverage
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July 26, 2023
/ Occidental College Newsroom
Through a series of leadership trainings and social events, a new cohort of Obama Scholars at Occidental develops skills and cohesion that will propel them through the College’s Obama Scholars Program...
June 21, 2021
/ Humanity in Action
Obama Scholar Noa Richard '22 received a Humanity in Action fellowship in Summer 2020 and has been finishing her follow-up podcast project. Humanity in Action recently wrote an article about it.
October 26, 2017
/ Washington Post
Occidental recently announced the launch of the Barack Obama Scholars Program, which aims to provide four-year scholarships for top students “committed to the public good,” according to a college news...
October 3, 2017
/ Daily Mail
Southern California's Occidental College, where Barack Obama studied from 1979 to 1981, is offering scholarships in honor of the former president.
October 3, 2017
/ Chicago Sun-Times
Occidental College in Los Angeles, where a young Barack Obama studied for two years, said Wednesday it will offer scholarships in honor of the former president.
October 3, 2017
/ Voice of America
Southern California's Occidental College, where Barack Obama studied from 1979 to 1981, is offering scholarships in honor of the former president.
September 28, 2017
/ The Hill
Barack Obama's alma mater is launching a scholarship program named for the former president.
September 28, 2017
/ Los Angeles Times
Occidental College, where a young Barack Obama discovered his passion for politics and social issues, has announced a new scholarship program in honor of the former president “to empower exceptional...
September 27, 2017
/ KPCC
Occidental College in Eagle Rock has announced it will offer a scholarship named after President Obama.
September 27, 2017
/ Washington Post
Occidental College in Los Angeles, where a young Barack Obama studied for two years, said Wednesday it will offer scholarships in honor of the former president.
September 27, 2017
/ StarTribune
Southern California's Occidental College, where Barack Obama studied from 1979 to 1981, is offering scholarships in honor of the former president.
September 27, 2017
/ Daily News
Occidental College today announced the launch of its Barack Obama Scholars Program, saying the full scholarships to be offered will “empower exceptional students committed to the public good”...
September 27, 2017
/ New York Times
It has long been one of the lesser-known facts about the life of Barack Obama. For all the talk about the former president and his Ivy alma maters — Columbia University and Yale Law School — he...