With support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Merced Anomaterials Center for Energy and Sensing (MACES) was launched in the summer of 2015 at the University of California Merced (UC Merced). MACES is a research and education center, focused on creating innovative materials-enabled solutions for energy and sensing-related space applications. The center established its MACES Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program to provide training and professional development opportunities for students, specifically aimed at groups traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math. This program consisted of Academic Year and Summer components that integrate research experience, mentoring and workshops on topics ranging from presentation skills to career preparation. The program engaged students from varied backgrounds, more than half of whom were from underrepresented groups, and provided them with tools that enabled greater confidence, expanded career perspectives, and enhanced conceptual and interdisciplinary knowledge. This article details the Academic Year and Summer program components and outlines the impact of respective activities on student participants.