Golden State Today

Christopher Ying, 2024 University Medalist, plans a legal career advocating for marginalized groups

By Robert Sanders

May 7, 2024

Growing up in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood, Christopher Ying had vague plans to become a lawyer and began preparing by joining the speech, debate, and mock trial teams at Lowell High School. However, he credits the University of California, Berkeley, and the opportunities it provided — particularly his experiences reporting and editing for the Daily Californian and tutoring incarcerated individuals at San Quentin State Prison — with helping him find his true passion in the legal field: giving a voice to marginalized members of society.

These unique experiences at Berkeley — combined with a 3.981 grade point average and strong faculty recommendations — have earned Ying the highest honor for a graduating senior: the 2024 University Medal. In addition to receiving the medal and $2,500, he will address the graduating class on Saturday, May 11, at the campus-wide spring commencement.

Ying, 23, double-majored in history and mathematics. He completed his coursework last December but decided to graduate with his friends at spring commencement while using his final semester to study intensely for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). To his surprise and delight, both majors aligned well with his plans to attend law school. Math was a love inherited from his parents — both software engineers who emigrated from China — but its foundation in logic reinforced fact-based argumentation skills learned through history.

“Math and law are sort of kindred subjects in that they both try to create order out of nothing,” said Ying. “In law you look at previous rulings to extrapolate principles that you apply to current legal problems. Math is the same way.”

After arriving at UC Berkeley and beginning volunteer work at San Quentin where he taught math through Mount Tamalpais College and edited stories for San Quentin News, Ying saw firsthand the need for criminal justice reform.

“Law had been an interest; after San Quentin it became a goal,” said Ying. “My dream right now is to somehow leave a lasting mark in criminal law.”

Ying's desire to help marginalized people also stemmed from difficult home life experiences that were never discussed due to cultural taboos. This motivated him during an internship as a sophomore under former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin focusing on domestic violence issues.

His concern for underdogs crystallized further when he joined Daily Cal during protests by East Bay Ohlone tribes reclaiming ancestral lands. Over three years there he rose from reporter to managing editor before dedicating himself as DEI hiring manager focusing on diversity initiatives.

It was through Daily Cal that he learned about Professor William Drummond’s San Quentin News Editing Project where students collaborate with incarcerated individuals producing various media forms.

Ying admitted initial apprehension entering San Quentin but quickly felt welcomed by inmates eager for assistance which inspired continued involvement including teaching math classes there.

Conversations with detainees led him writing a senior thesis about how prisoners push internally against oppression contrary popular belief changes come externally only earning high praise from advisor David Henkin noting meticulous interviews creating invaluable archives inmate perspectives institution contributions prison reform movements framing findings larger historical context resistance oppressive regimes

Displaying theatricality likely serve courtroom well whether defending clients pursuing restorative justice similar Boudin frequent animated gestures reenacting memorable moments during interviews stemming extensive mock trial participation five years collegiate competitions leading UC Berkeley team achieving All-American status top individual performers praised head coach Arthur Shartsis highlighting intelligence commitment rising ranks excelling dual roles star witness lawyer

Mock trial instilled collaborative teamwork ethos crucial winning competitive settings broader life emphasizing importance mutual support collective achievement over individual gain

Balancing demanding academic extracurricular schedule music provided refuge self-expression intellectual exploration enjoying playing piano classical compositions teaching mother opportunity learn during COVID developing aquascaping hobby decorating freshwater aquariums embracing imperfections challenges

Reflecting upon pivotal moment learning acceptance UC Berkeley high school trip Seattle feeling immense relief appreciation diverse enriching opportunities affirmatively endorses choice younger self emphasizing transformative educational experience unparalleled institution renowned disciplines chosen fields study concluding unreservedly recommending alma mater aspiring future students

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