Name: Cynthia Oliva

College: College 10

Department: (H)ACER

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? 2021 Benjamin Quaye Memorial Award for Social Justice

What year do you expect to graduate? 2022

Where do you call home? Los Angeles, CA

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? I fell in love with the campus when I got to tour it during high school. I wanted to go into studying environmental science and justice and felt that UCSC has many opportunities to do that.

What is your field of focus? Environmental Studies with a concentration in Conservation and Policy, and a minor in Education

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? I plan to get my masters and hope to do more research on food insecurity and the impacts school garden and garden education plays in BIPOC communities.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? Its very hard for myself to pick a specific moment that stands out, but I will always cherish the amazing people I have learned from and grown to know. They all have inspired me and helped me grow as a person .

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? Really explore the campus and try an internship that might not be related to your major, it really opens you to different experience you might have not been able to be a part of.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? This scholarship will help me out with paying some of my tuition for school!