In Their Words: Mark Arenas

Name: Mark Arenas

Department: Environmental Studies

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? Terrence Freitas Award in Environmental Studies

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

College: Porter

Where do you call home? Vista, CA in North County San Diego because it is where my family is.

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? The bridges and redwoods without a doubt. I was set on being a physical therapist and studying kinesiology at SJSU but the city life was not calling my name. I had no idea I would end up becoming an environmentalist until recently.

What is your field of focus? My field of focus is outdoor education and environmental justice.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? My spring 2018 field quarter course, California Ecology & Conservation, where I explored California with a group of awesome people. It is a collection of memorable moments that narrowed my path down from ecological research to education and environmental justice.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? My spring 2018 field quarter course, California Ecology & Conservation, where I explored California with a group of awesome people. It is a collection of memorable moments that narrowed my path down from ecological research to education and environmental justice.

How will this scholarship/award impact your academic life/research? As a low-income student, any financial stress I can alleviate from my parents that support me, translates into a little wiggle room for expenses. This can make the biggest difference for them and myself.