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Previous Winners of the Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship

The Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship at UC Santa Cruz was established in 2011 to support undergraduate students in UCSC's Division of Social Sciences who are passionate about social issues and committed to public service. It honors Gabriel “Gabe” Zimmerman (Stevenson, '02, sociology), who died in the January 2011 shooting that killed five others and wounded 13, including Gabrielle Giffords, a U.S. congresswoman representing the Tucson area. Zimmerman served as Giffords' community outreach director and had organized the "congresswoman on the corner" event in Tucson where the shooting occurred.

    2022

  • Gypsy Alvarado Covarrubias

    Gypsy Alvarado Covarrubias

    Gypsy Alvarado Covarrubias is a recipient of the 2022 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
  • Andy Rae

    Andy Rae

    Andy Rae is a recipient of the 2022 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
  • Natalie Barnett

    Natalie Barnett

    Natalie Barnett is a recipient of the 2022 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

    • 2021

  • Syd Abad

    Syd Abad

    Syd Abad is a recipient of the 2021 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
  • Pearl Ibeanusi

    Pearl Ibeanusi

    Pearl Ibeanusi is a recipient of the 2021 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

    • 2020

  • Reed Asselbaye

    Reed Asselbaye

    Reed Asselbaye is a recipient of the 2020 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
  • Bobbie Joe Garcia

    Bobbie Joe Garcia

    Bobbie Joe Garciais a recipient of the 2020 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

    • 2019

  • Alyssa Scarsciotti

    Alyssa Scarsciotti, Sociology and Linguistics

    Alyssa Scarsciotti is a recipient of the 2019 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
  • Alyssa Tamboura

    Alyssa Tamboura, Legal Studies

    Alyssa Tamboura is a recipient of the 2019 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

    • 2018

  • Asante Talib Nkosi

    Asante Talib Nkosi, Sociology and History

    Asante Talib Nkosi is a recipient of the 2018 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
  • John S. Kenney

    John S. Kenney, Community Studies and Sociology

    John S. Kenney is a recipient of the 2018 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

    • 2017

  • Jessica Xu

    Jessica Xu, Politics

    Jessica Xu is a recipient of the 2017 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship. 
  • Keelyanne Hyland

    Keelyanne Hyland, Sociology

    Keelyanne Hyland is a recipient of the 2017 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

    • 2016

  • Katie Sweeney

    Katie Sweeney, Community Studies

    Katie Sweeney is the recipient of the 2016 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

    • 2015

  • Photo: Samantha House

    Samantha House, Legal Studies and History

    Samantha House is the recipient of the 2015 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
  • Photo: Elisabeth Parra

    Elisabeth Parra, Community Studies and Biology

    Elisabeth Parra is the recipient of the 2015 Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

    • 2014

  • Arash

    Abuoali "Arash" Mohajerinejad, Sociology, 2014

    Abuoali "Arash" Mohajerinejad graduated in sociology after winter quarter and plans to attend law school "to be a voice for the voiceless." As a young man growing up in Iran, Abuoali "Arash" Mohajerinejad decided to devote his life to engaging with problems of social justice and injustice. He became active in human rights movements, particularly the student protests in 1999, and was later forced to flee.
    "I am humbled by the honor to be recognized for this award and I plan to continue being an active community member on a local and global level," Mohajerinejad said. Read more >

    • 2013

  • Carson

    Carson Watts, Sociology and Politics

    Carson Watts, an Oakes College sociology major and politics minor, has been selected as the second winner of the Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship at UC Santa Cruz. Watts, a senior who transferred to UCSC from Columbia Community College, said he hoped to continue Zimmerman's legacy and help "his legacy to spread even further."
    In December, he returned from Ghana after a five-month study-abroad program in which he conducted an independent research project in sanitation and waste management. Read more >

    • 2012

  • Yethel

    Yethzell Diaz, Latin American and Latino Studies and Sociology

    Yethzéll Díaz, a senior majoring in Latin American and Latino studies and sociology, is the recipient of the first Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship at UC  Santa Cruz. Díaz grew up in Bakersfield, the daughter of Latin American immigrants. After high school, she lived in Paraguay for seven months doing human rights work with Amnesty International before attending community college in Los Angeles. She transferred to UC Santa Cruz in fall 2010. Read more >

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