In Their Words: Janelle Perez-Salgado

Name: Janelle Perez-Salgado

Department: Economics

What Scholarship or Award did you receive? Robert J. Shepherd Economics Accounting Scholarship

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

College: Merrill

Where do you call home? Oxnard, California

What is your field of focus? Business Management Economics with an Emphasis in Accounting

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? I chose Santa Cruz for the beautiful redwood trees, the cool weather and the welcoming environment.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? More than anything, I would like to pass my CPA exam within a year of graduating. After accomplishing that, the possibilities are endless!

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? I really love UC Santa Cruz, and every single day is memorable to me. Getting an internship offer from one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms as a sophomore has to be one of the moments that stands out to me the most! Sharing that moment of happiness with my friends and family was really special to me.

What does this scholarship/award mean to you? As a first generation student, I have faced many obstacles figuring out the whole college process. I thank the obstacles I have had to overcome because they have made me value the cost of my education, the hard work education requires and the sacrifices one must make. This scholarship gives me hope that my hard work does not go unnoticed and to continue working hard. It also relieves a great deal of the financial burden on myself, which will allow me to focus my time here at UC Santa Cruz helping my accounting peers with their goals.