In Their Words: Alexandra Waller

Name: Alexandra Waller

Department: Anthropology, Literature

What Scholarship or Award did you receive? Jeremy Demian Marx Award in Cultural Anthropology

What year are you (1st year, 3rd year)? 4th year

College: Kresge

Where do you call home? Temecula, CA

What is your field of focus? Cultural/Social Anthropology

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? When I graduated from high school, I was looking for a place I could grow both as an individual and as an intellectual. UC Santa Cruz stood out to me not only because of the captivating campus with its redwood trees and abundant banana slugs, but also because of the research-driven minds that it has housed.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? I plan on getting my teaching credentials and will work towards a Master’s in Education.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? A memorable moment that stands out to me as an undergraduate student was when I became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, which greatly influenced my desire to further my education and pursue a graduate degree.

How will this scholarship/award impact your academic life/research? This award has greatly impacted my academic life because it has sparked a confidence in me to continue studying in graduate school. I am saving as much as I can in order to ease the expenses that come with a higher education, and this award will go towards that. I will remember this award long after graduation.