Zoe Bartelett, a student in the division's Sociology department, received the Sociology of Race, Class, and
Gender Senior Thesis Award for 2015
Congratulations Zoe!
Name: Zoe Bartlett
Department: Sociology
What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? 2015 Sociology of Race, Class, and Gender Senior Thesis Award
What year are you (e.g. 2016)? Senior 2015
College: Ten
Where do you call home? Foster City, CA
With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out?
I was drawn to UC Santa Cruz for its close proximity to home, but also because of its ability to offer me access to both the forest and the beach. Foster City doesn’t have either of those things, and I’d often have to drive a ways away in order to connect with nature the way that I wanted to. Being in Santa Cruz has exposed me to wonderful wildlife and beauty.
What is your field of focus? Sociology
What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz?
I hope to continue working with non-profits that provide for vulnerable populations. I would especially like to become a part of a mentoring program for LGBTQ youth. For now, I’m going to take a year off from school in order to work, but then I plan on getting my master’s in counseling, as well as a master’s or Ph.D in urban planning.
What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here?
I remember being in my first sociology class and realizing with full force that this was the field that I wanted to dedicate my college career to. I encountered literature that addressed so many questions about social life that I had, and I also discovered a way of thinking and writing that has brought me to some of the most fulfilling work that I’ve ever done. I felt re-aligned when I was finally able to switch my major to sociology. I’ve been immensely happy with my decision ever since.
What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz?
Get involved in the community! The university itself has so much to offer in the way of resources and research. At the same time, it is important to immerse yourself with others who are on the frontlines of solving social problems in new and empowering ways. So many issues do not receive the attention that they deserve – it is our duty to help bring these issues to light in an accurate, respectful, and powerful manner, all the while without overshadowing the voices of those who are the most affected.
How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research?
This scholarship has solidified my love of writing and research. It has also heightened my desire to conduct more long-term ethnographic work with vulnerable populations when I become a graduate student.
