Giselle Oritz

Name:  Giselle Ortiz

College: Kresge

Department: Sociology 

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? Sociology of Race, Class, and Gender Senior Thesis Award

What year do you expect to graduate? Spring 2020

Where do you call home? Anaheim, California

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? UCSC stood out to me because it is a research university and I knew that I would be able to have many opportunities here. The fact that Angela Davis was also a part of this community and the location of UCSC was a bonus for me.

What is your field of focus? Sociology: I am interested in education inequality and the Latinx Community.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz?  I will be attending UC Santa Cruz for their MA/ Teaching Credential Program starting in July. I also hope to pursue a doctorate in Sociology focusing on education inequality and the Latinx community. I want to be able to make more space for us in higher education and make sure that there are resources available.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? Being a student here has been the best thing so far. I have met many amazing people and I have grown here. One memorable thing would be my thesis because it helped me grow into a better researcher and find what I am mostly passionate about.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? Do not be afraid to reach out to faculty about anything. They are there to help you succeed. Remember that you do belong here!

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? This scholarship will impact my academic life/ research because I hope to bridge first generation gaps in the sense that I will be able to increase the womxn of color representation in both Master and PhD program levels.