Sammantha Samujh , a student in the division's Economics department, received the Blanche McKenzie Scholarship in Economics for 2015.
Congratulations Sammantha!
Department: Economics
What year are you? Fourth year
College: Stevenson
Where do you call home? Pacifica, California
With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out?
The students, staff, campus, and overall environment made UCSC stand out for
me. I have never been in an environment where I feel so safe and comfortable. It
is refreshing as to how kind and helpful the students and staff are. Furthermore,
like many others, I was attracted to the campus itself. The amount of trees and
nature that make up and surround the campus bring a diverse element to this UC
campus.
What is your field of focus?
Economics with an emphasis in Business Management
What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz?
Once I graduate, I hope to obtain a career in the event planning industry.
Specifically, I want to bring a sustainable element to event planning. Whether it is
a wedding, a music festival, a business conference, or a simple company get-
together, events accumulate a mass amount of waste. I aspire to help the
environment through utilizing sustainable practices as an event coordinator.
What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here?
My experience with the staff going above and beyond to help students has been
overwhelmingly memorable. For instance, during freshman year, Stephan Sweat,
my Stevenson Core Course professor, not only helped me improve my writing
but also helped me become a confident writer. Furthermore, he challenged the
way I looked at the world in a way that allowed me to be more open minded.
Lastly, he took the time to help me achieve my dream of studying abroad through
writing me a letter of recommendation and giving me advice before I left for this
nervewracking yearlong journey. Stephan Sweat helped me expand my horizons
and become a wellrounded and independent individual. I had never had a
professor who was so dedicated to his work, and I continue to see UCSC
professors displaying this dedication.
How will this scholarship impact your academics/research?
Funding school has been a distraction from my academics and achieving my
career goals. I am so grateful for this honor, as this scholarship alleviates some
of the financial burden, which allows me to better focus on school and obtaining a
career.
