Gauree Gupta ’02

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Gauree Gupta graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude this June with over a 3.9 GPA in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics. She is also graduating with a minor in public policy, concentrating on health care policy.

Gauree is the recipient of the 2002 Charles E. Young Humanitarian Award, the UCLA Foundation Alumni Scholar Award, the Distinguished Bruin Award, the Bruin Diversity Award and the Vice Provost Recognition Award for Recruiting High School Scholars. Gauree was the co-author of a paper on brain cell research in the Journal of Neuroscience, presenting her work at the 1999 Joint International Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry in Germany. Gauree received the 1999 Beckman National Research Scholars Award in 1999.

Three years ago she founded the Best Buddies Training Program at UCLA to train college students how to socially and emotionally empower an often-stereotyped population. Best Buddies forms and fosters one-to-one relationships between college students and those born with developmental disabilities. Last month, Best Buddies International awarded her the Chapter of the Year Award.

In 2001, Gauree participated in a service learning program in Calcutta, India. While there, she volunteered in the Missions of Charity, founded by Mother Theresa. She also traveled with doctors and nurses to rural villages to help administer health care services. Her research paper on traditional remedies utilized by rural East Indian mothers for common ailments was recognized by the International Partnership for Service Learning.