Jessie Alpaugh Senior Prize

Jessica, a young woman with long, curled brown hair stands in front of Kerckhoff Hall. She is wearing a satin white dress with a blue and gold “Class of 2026” graduation stole.

JESSICA LE

Major: Psychology
Minor: Disability Studies
Project Title: NICHE-UCLA: An Inclusive, Intersectional Curriculum to Advance Disability Health Education in Medical Training

Jessica Le recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA in 2026 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Disability Studies. In her three years at UCLA, Jessica has been passionate about researching ways to uplift neurodiversity, inspired by the intimate conversations and experiences she has had with those around her. Her passion led her to joining the University of California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (UC-LEND) Fellowship as an undergraduate trainee in her second year, before she was promoted to becoming Senior Research Assistant for UC-LEND in her third and final year. For UC-LEND, Jessica’s main project is in partnership with the community-based organization 5-Eleven Hoops, where she is working to evaluate and develop improvements for the active play initiative designed for youth with autism and other intellectual and physical disabilities and their families. Her other research involvements at UCLA include the Wilson Motor Lab and thinkSMART, both of which she has been part of since her first year. Outside of research, Jessica is involved with uplifting the Asian American community on campus through the performing arts. She served as Producer for LCC Theatre Company and Publicity Coordinator for Vietnamese Culture Night this past year.

Jessica worked closely with UC-LEND and an interdisciplinary team of individuals with lived experiences for her Disability Studies honors capstone. Her project focused on the creation of an LGBTQIA+ and Disability Health module for the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Basecamp orientation for first-year medical students. The module worked to assess and increase positive attitudes of medical students towards patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She presented her findings at the 2026 American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry’s One Voice Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Jessica’s experience in the disability studies minor has shaped her perspective of difference by showing her how difference is understood differently by everyone and negatively by many, but that public awareness and education are more powerful than we think in reshaping thought and action towards inclusivity. After UCLA, Jessica aspires to become a research professor in the effort towards making this goal possible.

Isabel, a young woman with medium-length brown hair, stands in front of a decorative railing with foliage behind. She is wearing a blue dress with ruffles and a blue and gold “Class of 2026” graduation stole.

ISABEL RUBIN-SAIKA

Major: Architectural Studies
Minors: Disability Studies, Geography, and Urban and Regional Studies
Project Title: Care in Place at Fowler

Isabel Rubin-Saika graduated from UCLA in Spring 2026 with a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Studies with minors in Disability Studies, Geography, and Urban and Regional Studies. During her time at UCLA, she was committed to accessible design, inclusive living, and spatial equity through innovative design solutions. Through the Disability Studies minor, she had the opportunity to tailor her educational experience, bringing together architecture and disability justice. Isabel interned for an organization called Premiere Living Services, a temp agency for adults with intellectual disabilities that provides inclusive staffing solutions that empower individuals with disabilities to thrive in the workplace.  She helped raise awareness for disability diversity in the workplace and did outreach to potential employment partners. Alongside this internship, Isabel researched the relationship between the experiences of blind and low-vision individuals and practices of accessible design in art museums.

This research led to Isabel’s senior year capstone project, Care in Place: Reimagining Access in a University Museum. Working under Professor Dana Cuff and with the support and guidance of Dr. Yang Yang and Alexa Vaughn, Isabel has been able to work on this collaborative project and develop it into a space-based design experiment that centers collaboration, feedback, and lived experience to root design practices in accessibility for all. Currently, the Fowler is underused and unknown to many students, faculty, and the public. It’s unclear how to access the museum, what is allowed, and who is allowed. Navigation and accessibility are difficult. This project investigates how the Fowler Museum at UCLA can be reimagined as a third space where people can gather to socialize, co-work, study, and rest. In collaboration with cityLAB UCLA, Isabel developed an accessibility survey to assess the current use, needs, and barriers at the Fowler. Data analysis from these surveys helped to inform strategies for wayfinding and spatial interventions. The second phase included a series of pop-up events and workshops to test and explore new strategies for engagement and accessibility. Isabel is hopeful that her capstone project will inform future design decisions at the Fowler and can be a precedent for future space activation projects that center accessible design.

Isabel will be continuing her education at the University of California, Berkeley to pursue a Master of Architecture. She is eager to bring her experience in accessible design to her master’s program, hopeful that spaces beyond museums can be reimagined through spatial activation to support equitable and inclusive environments.