Veronica Salazar

Name: Veronica Salazar

College: John R. Lewis College

Department: Education

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

What year do you expect to graduate? 2025

Where do you call home? Coachella Valley, California

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? What motivated me to choose UC Santa Cruz was the Smith Society program on campus, along with the other supportive programs offered. While researching which university to attend, I read the mission statement and history behind the Smith Society program at UCSC, and I was moved. I learned that Bill Dickinson, one of the first former foster youth to attend UC Santa Cruz, created the program to honor Paige & Elois Smith and their support for his journey as a student. The program aims to help veterans of the foster care and juvenile justice systems, orphans without family support, and others who suffered serious childhood abuse or neglect reach their educational dreams. As a former foster youth, I liked the the idea of choosing UCSC for the sake of being a part of such a wonderful program that could support me and my educational endeavors.

What is your field of focus? I am a double major in Education, Democracy, and Justice (EDJ) and Psychology :)

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? Once I graduate, I hope to continue my education and obtain a master’s in school counseling. My goal is to use my degree to support foster youth within the public school system. Most foster youth are told that they would never graduate from high school, let alone attend college. I want to help them believe in themselves and inspire them to live beyond a case number and provide my support to any student willing to reach their educational and life goals.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? As an EOP Bridge Peer Mentor at UCSC, I work with first-generation, low-income first-year students transitioning from high school to college. My time working with the students has been the most rewarding moment of my time here at UCSC. I enjoy helping students and giving them my support in their first year of college. I’ve helped grow a community for the Bridge cohort, met amazing students, and worked with a great team that cares for the program– I think that is what makes my time spent here memorable.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? Whether you are a first-generation, low-income, disadvantaged student, etc., you have the choice to break generational barriers and succeed in college if you put your mind to it! It can be tough, and there will be times when you feel like quitting, but don’t give up! You are not alone. There will always be someone there to support you, even if you don’t know it yet.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? As someone who does not receive any financial support from family and rely heavily on financial aid, this scholarship will ease my financial stresses, and I can use the money for school supplies needed for academic success.