The University of California San Diego’s campus is on the brink of a transformative development with the forthcoming Triton Alumni and Welcome Center. The university announced that it recently received a large donation from alumni leaders, bringing the completion of the project one step closer.
Taner Halıcıoğlu ’96, a notable UC San Diego alumnus, has pledged $25 million to bolster the Triton Alumni and Welcome Center. Envisioned as a nexus for returning alumni and a dynamic campus entry point, the center embodies the university’s ethos of collaboration and community.
“The Triton Alumni and Welcome Center represents a beacon of hope and excitement,” said Halıcıoğlu in a statement. “It embodies the essence of UC San Diego – a place where connections are forged, ideas are nurtured, and positive change is championed.”
Scheduled for completion in 2026, the Triton Alumni and Welcome Center is set to be one of the focal points of the larger Triton Center development. It will offer a suite of amenities including a dedicated boardroom, lounge, library and meeting spaces for alumni. Additionally, the center will serve as a starting point for campus tours, providing prospective students with a glimpse into the university.
The project has garnered widespread support from UC San Diego alumni, with contributions from Sandra Timmons ’81, Richard L. Sandstrom ’72, PhD ’79, James “Jim” S. Kaplan ’84, and others. These generous donations highlight the strong sense of community and pride among UC San Diego alumni.
Furthermore, alumni leaders have stepped up to volunteer their time as ambassadors for the project, illustrating their commitment to its success. Their efforts, coupled with various matching initiatives, aim to rally support from the broader UC San Diego community.
As UC San Diego alumni and friends rally behind the Triton Alumni and Welcome Center, President Ping Yeh ’99, MS ’01, along with Jerrilyn T. Malana ’86 and Gabriela Manriquez ’89, MPIA ’97, have established matching initiatives to encourage fundraising efforts.
