Virginia Mota

Name:  Virginia Mota

College:  Graduate

Department:  Education

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? Richard and Cindy Morley Award in Education

What year do you expect to graduate? July 2021

Where do you call home?  Watsonville, California

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? UCSC was closer for me to commute as well as their outstanding program and resources. Staff is so helpful. Campus is beautiful.

What is your field of focus?  I am in the MA/C program therefore education is my field of focus.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? I will be a 2nd grade teacher in my local community.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here?  I recall talking to my professors about my challenges I was facing in my personal life and they weren’t judgemental. They were very patient, helpful and understanding. They shared a few resources and worked with me.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz?  One piece of advice I have for incoming students about life at UCSC is don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors or classmates. More likely someone is going through the same experience or problems.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research?  This scholarship will impact my academic life because it means I am one step closer to my dream career. As a single parent this impacts me in a positive way.