Grace Brieger

Name: Grace Brieger

College: Cowell

Department: Environmental Studies & Art (Double Major)

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? Deans award

What year do you expect to graduate? Summer 2022

Where do you call home? Redwood City

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? I like the emphasis on hands on learning, and was very drawn to the redwood forests and colorful meadows. I also heard really good things about the Environmental Studies department!

What is your field of focus? Within my environmental studies major, my passion is understanding birds and their unique behaviors, and I’m getting more comfortable with my botany skills which is something I hope to continue developing post-grad. Within my art major, I focus on photography and printmaking! To combine my majors, I have been recently getting into scientific illustration which is another passion I hope to continue developing.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? I’m planning to look for seasonal field work in California either doing vegetation surveys, restoration, or working with birds in some way. I also hope to continue pursuing art and working on my Etsy shop.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? Natural History Field Quarter — observing Calochortus lilies for 6 hours!!

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? My piece of advice is to take internships and utilize all the wonderful hands on opportunities.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? This scholarship motivates me to continue combining my two passions (for the natural world and creating artwork).