Samanta Meza

Name: Samanta Meza

College: Merrill College

Department: Education

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? I received the 2022-2023 Walsh Family Scholarship Award.

What year do you expect to graduate? I expect to graduate in June 2025.

Where do you call home? I live in the Eastern Coachella Valley.

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? The University of California in Santa Cruz stood out to me the most out of all my options because of the financial aid I was being offered and of course the scenery of the campus is the most beautiful!

What is your field of focus? I am double majoring in education and Spanish studies with a concentration in
language and linguistics.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? Once my journey at this university comes to an end, I hope that I am able to get into agood teaching credential program and also pursue a masters degree in Spanish/Bilingual Education. My goal is to become an educator and serve the community that I am from.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? One of the most memorable moments that I have experienced so far at the university is having occasional picnics with my friends on the East field and catching the sunset.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? I would advise incoming students to not be afraid of any challenges they may face because they are necessary for growth. Especially for first generation students, I think it is crucial for them to understand that they deserve to be here and that they are capable of success!

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? I am extremely grateful for this scholarship as it will relieve my family and I from some financial worries. I plan to use this award towards my academic needs such as to pay for tuition, required reading course materials, or any other tools that will support my academic success.