Congrats to the Graduating MEP Class of 2020!🎓
Click on the graduate's name to jump to their sectionCongrats to Jonathan Adams for earning a degree in Electrical Engineering !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
None of them are MEP but Sloan Liu, Edison Grauman, Ali Elimawagi, and Luis Barragan for leading SlugSat this year and helping us accomplish so SO much
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Stephen Petersen cause he might seem like a scary grumpy old man but tbh he really just cares about you as a student. He really just wants to see everyone understand the topic and doesn't care about the rigamarol of traditional memorizing and spewing out facts and information from cramming for an exam but rather wants to see that you understand the concepts and can still work your way through the problem. He just cares that people are ready for the real world when they finish at UCSC.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
Jen!!!
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
FINANCIAL AID. I could NOT have afforded to to come here on my own. Luckily I had a 529 account I could drain as needed to pay the university but I don't think I know many people who can say they graduated with only just over $15k in debt.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Just in general the camaraderie of the community.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Don't NOT trust the major advisors. But let me put it to you this way. Listen to the people who are ACTUALLY enrolled and ACTUALLY in the major. You'll save yourself a LOT of headaches. REACH OUT TO YOUR PEERS, It's more than likely that they're IN the same boat currently OR had been in that situation previously!!
Congrats to Veronika Cabalova Joseph for earning a degree in Computer Science !
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with everyone?
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Maxar, Software Engineer, Palo Alto, CA
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank my family for all the support through this long journey.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MSI, LSS, TAs were all very helpful resources in my CS journey.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Study abroad is my favorite part of the college experience.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Don't be afraid to ask for help and take advantage of all the great resources available to you.
Congrats to Nicolasa Cardenas for earning a degree in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
We would like to feature seniors who participated in research, a project, or achieved something during their time as students. What was that project?
Nicolasa Cardenas and the 2019 iGEM team
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
David Bernick, for giving me a chance and believing in me when I didn't and don't believe in myself.Kevin Karplus, for teaching me the importance of professionalism but also adapting his teaching style to meet me where I am at. Chris Volmers for re-explaining everything a thousand times and showing me kindness when I was a shell of a person.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I'd like to thank my family for supporting me for the 7 years it took me to get this degree, and all the hardships I faced along the way. I'd like to thank friends who have been my consistent shoulders to lean on and never stopped encouraging me to achieve my dreams.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
Thank you to Rick and Abbey in the DRC for making sure I always got the accommodations I needed and called me a million times to keep me updated and check on me. Blaire from CAPS for listening to me the first year and giving me some semblance of my life back. Jennifer at MEP for showing me kindness and giving me motivation when I felt like I didn't belong....she's my favorite people engineer.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Finishing a degree that was seven years of college in the making.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Ask for help if you need it and don't stop asking until you find it, eventually someone will help or you'll find a way to help yourself. You are strong smart and capable.
Congrats to Carmelle Catamura for earning a degree in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job, Graduate School (PhD in STEM)
If you are attending graduate school, please provide name, city, and state.
UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Dr. Angela Brooks, Alexis Thornton
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MEP! :) -- tutoring, textbook, snacks, study space and STEM DIVERSITY -- support with research, professional development etc.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Presenting my research at the 2019 SACNAS Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
don't be afraid to ask for help. balance studies with hobbies/things that make you happy
Congrats to Liliana Chavez Flores for earning a degree in Technology and Information Management !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
IT Resident, Google, Mountainveiw, CA
We would like to feature seniors who participated in research, a project, or achieved something during their time as students. What was that project?
Maybe SHPE achievements
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Thank you Carmen, Jennifer, and Lydia! Carmen took the time to meet with me and I appreciate it! Jennifer, I think I poured my heart to you a few times and always left your office feeling heard. Lydia-if you hadn't pushed me, I might have left STEM. I'm glad I didn't.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I'd like to thank Sara. She was one of my first friends in STEM and it's pretty cool to have gotten through this journey together. Thank you to Daniela and my SHPE familia for 3 amazing years. Thank you to everyone in MEP I ever crossed paths with: I'll forever remember MEP as a room full of laughter amid the academic anxiety that surrounded us.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
Thank you BSOE and MEP for allowing us to form these amazing communities and find our home away from home in college.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
My favorite MEP moment has to be studying late night with Sara and others for CE 150! Sleeping in the MEP couch because I had an 8am final is probably something I'll never forget haha
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Don't forget to soak it all in. If you make mistakes, learn from them and always come back stronger. Si se puede!
Congrats to Martin Contreras for earning a degree in Bioengineering !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Jennifer Wood: She is the first counselor I've had that has taken in interest in what we as engineering student do. Jen would always change the MEP room into a place where we can feel safe and vulnerable to the stress that surrounds us. She has always offered her help where she can and I have become a better student and person because of her presence in MEP.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank the MEP community. The members made me feel welcome when I joined my second year and since then we have all been our own support group.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MEP
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
It's hard to pick one, but the best that come to mind is the 'AH-HA' moments that we get when we're stuck in a difficult problem. This can be on an assignment, lab, or project. That moment where you've found out the answer to your problem just gives you the motivation you need and reassures you are in the right place.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Use your resources, for me MEP was enough to help me but for you it might be a million other things. Listen to the upperclassmen and their advice because they're the ones that already lived what you're going through.
Congrats to Joseph Csoti for earning a degree in Computer Science !
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with everyone?
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Poynt, Junior Software Engineer, Palo Alto
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Pat Mantey was an incredible person in my time at UCSC. He was a great mentor and helped me get to where I am today. He will always be in my heart and mind.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would love to thanks Colleges Against Cancer for giving me a community that was accepting and helped me grow into a better person
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
All the student orgs: Colleges Against Cancer, MEP, ACE, DRC
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
When I shook the hand of George Blumenthal after showing him my hackathon project. The campus used that exact photo to announce his retirement.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Don't be afraid of anything or anyone. Everything is up to you so jump right in and do the best in everything you do
Congrats to Tamara Dorian for earning a degree in Computer Science !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job, Graduate School (Masters in STEM)
If you are attending graduate school, please provide name, city, and state.
Considering grad school
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank my family, friends and Jen for always being encouraging.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MEP has been a great resource along with LSS( mostly MSI and Small Group tutoring)
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Meeting some of my amazing friends through clubs.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Join clubs and be involved. Also explore the campus and Santa Cruz area
Congrats to Stephan Edgar for earning a degree in Computer Science !
What are your plans after graduation?
Government job, Public Service
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Americorps NCCC, FEMA Corps
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
EOP and STARS made my survival in STEM here possible. MEP gave me a place to work and study while Jennifer checked in on me and kept me moving. Thank you!
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Reach out and get help as soon as you start feeling overwhelmed! The quarter will not slow down for you, but you're not alone in what you are going through.
Congrats to Tolu Familoni for earning a degree in Robotics Engineering !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
Would love to thank all the MEP mentors, tutors and students for providing such a strong support over the years.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
NSBE, LSS, ACE, MEP were all great resources and contributed greatly to the completion of this degree.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Favorite moment was completing the final checkoff in Mechatronics and competing in the competition.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
College is by no means easy, but keep pushing through and never let anyone tell you that you can't achieve what your greatest goals are.
Congrats to Sara Garcia for earning a degree in Technology and Information Management !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job, K-12 Teaching
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
Shout out to Lilee Chavez for being my number 1 study buddy. We always check up on each other and try taking classes together to make sure we are not alone.
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Jennifer always makes sure to put out puzzle to distress. She helps me with time management which helps me improve my grades. She always directs and connects me with people that can help with my questions. Lydia is a great adviser and is very patients. She would help me make my schedule and talk to me about the options I had.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank God and everyone I met throughout college.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MEP has help me connect with other students and create study groups. I was able to have great tutors through MEP. There was always a space for me to study and buy snacks for when I got hungry.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
One of my favorite moments was when I finally figured out what I wanted to do after college. I was scared because I thought I had to know after my freshman year but It just takes patience. I took a class that I really enjoyed and from their I started figuring out my future career path.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Time management is your best friend. Go to Jennifer to get help with time management.
Congrats to Samm Garcia for earning a degree in Electrical Engineering !
What are your plans after graduation?
Graduate School (Masters in STEM), Gap year, then Masters or PhD
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
Sara Garcia. I admire her hard work, generosity, and tenacity. She's inspired me to not give up when the going gets tough.
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Jennifer Wood, Dr. Carmen Robinson, and Lydia Zendejas because they have all encouraged me to keep going despite each setback that I encountered. Young Kim, the staff, and the participants of the Engineering Transfer Transition Program because they helped make the transition from community college to UCSC a lot smoother. Most importantly the custodial staff for Baskin Lounge thanks for the hard work that you put in to keep our study space clean, and Nobby Kobayashi and Brian Giraldo for allowing me to further explore the wonderful world of Material Science.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
My family and all of my wonderful teachers and mentors at Monterey Peninsula College that inspired me to dream big, and my friends and classmates that witnessed and pushed me through those long stressful nights that frequently turned into days.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
STARS and CAPS because they provided me help with mental health care.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
The last dinner I had at Porter Dining Hall with all of the porter transfer students. They closed off the patio for us, and people from all the floors sat together and enjoyed the last time we would all be living together. It was rough and awesome living in a big house with all of my friends.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Make lots of friends in and out of your major. They will become your family away from home.
Congrats to Volha Hancharova for earning a degree in Computer Science !
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with everyone?
What are your plans after graduation?
Entrepreneur (starting my own business), Industry job, Graduate School (Masters in non-STEM)
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
I am very grateful for Snigdha Chaturvedi. She is kind, attentive to the needs of her students, and willing to spend extra time to help them succeed. I also value that she raised such important topics as diversity and bias in tech, and encouraged the 'can do' attitude. Moreover, I appreciate all the hard work by Richard Jullig. He is truly passionate about leveling up the skills of future engineers. It was great to learn about technical debt, clean code, agile development, and the importance of good documentation early on. Richard's mentorship and support were very important to me. I am also thankful for Ethan Miller and his System Design class. Ethan is a strict but very fair professor. By sharing industry insights, practical solutions, and demanding a high-quality standard, he ensures that his students are ready for the industry. Additionally, it was very important to me that he would always offer a helping hand when asked. Lastly, thanks to David Draper, I discovered a pure love for Statistics. It helps me look at the world through a different prism, think more critically about the information I receive, and make more conscious decisions.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I want to thank Jennifer Wood for always being there for me! Her kindness, ability to listen, empathize, encourage, and support were priceless. It meant a lot to me during these years, and I admire her for that. Moreover, I want to thank Evangeline Mahmoodi for her compassion, resourcefulness, and ability to see things through and call them out as they are. Additionally, I appreciate Maia Dupuis! She has the biggest heart and brings radiant joy in my life. I also want to thank Annie Shen for her guidance, understanding, honesty, and friendship. Finally, I am very grateful for MEP. I met wonderful people, learned a lot from them, and lived through many exciting moments together. Thank you, family!
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Be curious, be ambitious, be kind, talk to people that are different from you, reach out for help, apply for internships and research opportunities early, and enjoy!
Congrats to Ocean Hurd for earning a degree in Computer Engineering !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Bank of America, Software Engineer, Charlotte, NC
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
Nicolle Ayon Campos for all the effort she puts into the engineering community on campus.
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Sri Kurniawan was a wonderful mentor as the professor I researched under and is a wonderful human being.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
Jen is amazing and infinitely understanding, compassionate and supportive.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MEP and SWE
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Realizing I was actually going to graduate with a degree in Engineering.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Persist! If I made it, you can.
Congrats to Mia King for earning a degree in Computer Science: Computer Game Design !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job, Graduate School (Masters in STEM)
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
The whole game design department at UCSC and all the students that are in the major are an incredible group of individuals that do their best to help their fellow peers be the best they can be. I am very happy to be part of such an amazing community.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
The opportunity I had to study abroad in Japan was one of the most fun and enriching moments in my life.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
To take advantage of classes with MSI, LSS and other tutoring options available to you.
Congrats to Sergio Mendez Vargo for earning a degree in Electrical Engineering !
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with everyone?
What are your plans after graduation?
Graduate School (PhD in STEM)
If you are attending graduate school, please provide name, city, and state.
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
Angela Rodriguez. Special note for remaining strong with her professional ambitions of working on digital hardware and not giving in to programming.
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Prof. Ali Yanik, for his tremendous support and mentorship during my years at UCSC and my graduate school application process.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank my family. My two siblings, Quique and Sofia and of course, my Mom! The core that kept me strong during this journey beyond College.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MEP has provided me an on-campus-hub. I really enjoyed that space.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Prioritize your studies, start your classes early, but remember to have fun and enjoy your time at UCSC because after week 5, you will already be falling behind in your classes.
Congrats to Justin Morales for earning a degree in Computer Science !
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with everyone?
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
Congrats to Brian Naranjo for earning a degree in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
Martin Contreras - I've only known him for a short period of time, but I can tell that he has consistently been a dedicated student who supports his classmates and has motivated me to join MEP in the first place.
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
David Draper is a professor for STAT 131 & 206, who has definitely changed the way I look at learning and observing the world. He is always great to talk to and has motivated me to be a critical thinker.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank all my classmates who have struggled with me in my courses here at UCSC since they collectively were the ones that motivated me to study through the night and make the overall journey that much easier.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
I'd like to thank everyone at BELS including Russ for helping us get all the parts and equipment we needed for our classes. I would also like to thank the BSOE and MEP advisers ( Jennifer Wood specifically ) for providing all the available resources needed to ensure that my academic progress was never in jeopardy.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
One of my favorite moments had to be the Mechatronics Final Project Showcase in Fall Quarter 2020. Although our group's bot was disqualified immediately after spazzing out and leaving the arena, I had the best time seeing everyone's struggle finally come to an end and spend quality time with my peers.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Join MEP early and take advantage of the available resources. A big problem for me was that I was not aware of the many programs that were on campus and found myself too drained from schoolwork to set aside time in these programs. However, I found that I ultimately regret not sacrificing that time to be a part of something bigger on campus.
Congrats to Minh Anh Nguyen for earning a degree in Computer Science !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Lockheed Martin, Software Engineer, Sunnyvale
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Jennifer Wood for being the awesome person she is. She has really helped me along my academic and professional journey. Lydia Zendejas for believing in me and for showing me different opportunities that were available.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MEP - textbook lending library and tutoring; ACE - tutoring; MSI/LSS - tutoring
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Meeting new people and developing lasting relationships.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Now is the time to go try out and explore different things. Step out of your comfort zone and discover a new you.
Congrats to David Orellana for earning a degree in Computer Science !
What are your plans after graduation?
Government job, Industry job
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
Parents, friends, classmates, Smith society fellows.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Start homeworks early
Congrats to Vianey Padilla for earning a degree in Electrical Engineering !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
Angela Rodriguez is worthy of a special note because she has done a lot for MEP. She has been an amazing mentor to several students in MEP. She has also tutored multiple classes helping students achieve higher grades. She has been supportive of other students in MEP. She has always believed in me, and has encouraged me to apply for engineering positions even when I think I don't fit the qualifications.
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Professor Petersen made a difference for me during my time at UCSC because he taught me everything necessary to be a good circuit designer. Thank you Professor Petersen for your passion, support and guidance. You truly do make the electrical engineering undergraduate experience at UCSC interesting and worthwhile. Jennifer made a difference for me because she provided with all the support I needed during the rough times. Thank you for you for being charismatic and compassionate.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank all of my friends that I've met at MEP during my time at UCSC. Thank you for the moral support, and for being my home away from home.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
ACE helped me survive the physics 5 series. Colleges 9 and 10 granted me (and my teammates) $600 for our capstone project. SHPE funded me to the Regional Conference in Spring 2019. MEP let me borrow books, provided tutoring, academic guidance, and a room to study in.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
When I got my final project for ECE 173 to work, and got checked off with an A. I had already ruined the circuit four times, and I had not slept for days. Getting the circuit to work and acing the class felt very rewarding and fulfilling.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Engineering is hard, therefore it is important to build community. There are going to be times when you need moral support, and times when you need people to collaborate with. Get involved with MEP, and other organizations like SHPE, NSBE, SWE, etc.
Congrats to Will Resner for earning a degree in Technology and Information Management !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Qualys (Hopefully), Technical Account Manager, San Mateo
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Jen: She helped me through every possible difficult decision and time possible.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I'd like to thank Joshua Pena. He was an old MEP member who helped steer me during my early college days and bailed me out of a few classes. Also funny enough, CS 12B with Darrel Long gave me a lot of confidence despite it being one of the hardest classes I have taken.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
MSI and LSS
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
I got the opportunity to be the sound designer for a main stage play at Santa Cruz
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Things will not always go how you envision. What matters is how you adjust to things going astray and what lessons you take away. Its okay to mess up as long as you take action and responsibility after the event.
Congrats to Ahyesha Russell for earning a degree in Technology and Information Management !
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with everyone?
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Capgemini, technical consultant, Seattle
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
Lilee Chavez. Lilee is what I see when I think of a strong woman. She battles so much and at the same time achieves even more. No matter how overwhelmed and overworked she is, she always makes time to help others achieve their goals. She tutored me in CE 150, she helped me prepare for my interviews, she was a cheerleader when I needed one. And she always, no matter how bad she was feeling, checked to make sure my health was ok! Let us please celebrate the woman I now consider one of my closest friends, Lilee Chavez!
We would like to feature seniors who participated in research, a project, or achieved something during their time as students. What was that project?
In the CruzHacks 2018 hackathon I helped design a device capable of teaching the deaf and hard of hearing to play perfect chords. My teams project took home 3 prizes!
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
I've had so many faculty make a difference in my life. There was Young who encouraged me through ETTP and really made the transfer process enjoyable and easier. Lydia for listening and being my advocate from the very first day she met me. Jennifer for listening to me whine, and always ready to tackle whatever problem I presented.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank all of the MEP staff for being there to support me through this long hard process.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
Tutoring!! I had a hard time mastering all of the subjects taught in such large settings. I really relied on LSS and the tutoring services provided by MEP.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Winning three awards at the hackathon after no sleep for 48 hours.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Look for jobs early!! I started day one of my senior year and thank goodness I did. I had secured employment winter quarter and when the pandemic hit and the hiring freezes, I was still secured with employment. Hopefully nothing like this happens to you all, but the lesson to learn here is start looking early!
Congrats to Julio Sandino for earning a degree in Computer Science !
What are your plans after graduation?
Entrepreneur (starting my own business), Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Intel Corporation, Systems Engineer, Folsom, CA
We would like to celebrate seniors who made an impact. Please tell us about a graduating senior who you feel is worthy of special note, and why.
Joseph Zanini is such a homie. Whenever I would see him, even though we wouldn't talk much, he'd always be on the grind having a work hard attitude. But at the same time he was laid back and approachable. Very empathetic towards others.
We would like to feature seniors who participated in research, a project, or achieved something during their time as students. What was that project?
I was really proud of the work that I did with the UC Santa Cruz Rocket Team. I helped write the code inside of the rocket that logged flight data.
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Professor Darrell Long. He wrote a letter of recommendation for me to work at CERN over the summer. I got the position, and I know it was in part for his help. Unfortunately the program got canned because of Coronavirus. Professor Heiner Litz. He took me into his lab after I took one of his classes and that is how I got first got exposed to Storage Systems. I literally work as a Systems Engineer in the Storage Systems branch of Intel, so I think it is fair to say that he influenced me a lot. Ms. Jenn. Whenever I needed help, whether it came to starting a business, graduating in time, or getting interview help, Ms. Jenn was there to help me. Even if she didn't have all the answers, she knew who to ask and where to look for them. Invaluable human resource.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank all of my professors. My professors at community college, and my professors here at UCSC. I would also like to explicitly thank Ms. Jenn for all the help that she gives us at MEP.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
The MEP program. From an Alumni event, I got my first industry internship, which eventually lead to my post undergrad job. I got to participate in my first conference (MESA SLC), which led me to meet so many excellent people who I am now able to call my friends. On a different note, I got to have a space with friendly people from all walks of life. That was also a huge supporting structure in my academic career.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Ups: Water Polo Season. I have made some of my best friends from water polo and I loved every second of being on the team. Downs: Coronavirus cancelling on-campus spring quarter.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Party hard, work harder.
Congrats to Sabrina Sedell for earning a degree in Network and Digital Technology !
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with everyone?
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Zymergen, Inc., Engineering Technician, Emeryville CA
Is there a faculty or staff person who made a difference for you?
Jennifer Woods - For being incredibly supportive and a good sounding ear when I really needed solid advice. Thank you. Tracy Larabee - Tracy was supportive even though she wasn't my professor.
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
It's been an especially long journey. Thank you to my family and my friends who rooted for me throughout the years.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
ETTP (Engineering Transfer Transition Program) - Introduced me to other engineering transfer students before starting Fall quarter. MEP - Great resource and connection to like-minded students STARS (Services for Transfer and Re-entry Students) - I was awarded multiple scholarships through STARS that helped me achieve my degree. DRC (Disability Resource Center) - Really supportive and good resources. LSS (Learning Support Services) and MSI (Modified Supplemental Instruction) - I attended as many extra study sessions as allowed by my schedule.
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
One of my favorite moments was attended the technical student conference I developed with UCSC IEEE, the Technology of Today and Tomorrow Student Conference in October 2016.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Build a solid support network and try to support other students (if you have the bandwidth to do so). You've got this.
Congrats to Erika Staud for earning a degree in Computer Science: Computer Game Design !
Do you have a photo you'd like to share with everyone?
What are your plans after graduation?
internship
If you are working, please provide company, job title, and job location.
Software Engineering Internship at Liberty Mutual
Congrats to Clayton Tan for earning a degree in Computer Engineering !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
I would like to thank everyone in MEP as you all have at some point in these two years gave me support and inspiration which helped me accomplish great things. If I could go back in time, I would join MEP my freshmen year because MEP really changed my perspective of college and engineering.
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
Even though I joined MEP my 3rd of college, I felt that it was very helpful to meet other students that are in the same area of study as I am because those students have knowledge and experience that can be passed on to other students. When was a freshmen and sophomore, I didn't know about MEP so I felt that I didn't have any support and that I had to be better than others in order to survive the college life. Not having support, I felt the need to be more competitive and sometimes very insecure. Joining MEP helped me figure out that it's not about competition because everyone is trying to survive this and working together increases everyone's chance of making it through. Having MEP tutoring also helped as other tutoring services didn't have the same vibe as MEP. When I was tutored in MEP, I felt more comfortable and more supported compared to other tutoring services such as MSI because people in MEP are family.
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Don't let other people tell you that you can't do something just because they can't do it. You should always plan things out because "Chance favors the prepared mind". If you plan ahead, you will always have a higher chance at something compared to others. College isn't about speed, it's about experience. Some people who graduate in 3 years or 4 years take forever to get a job while some people who graduate in 5 years get hired immediately after graduation. Whether it takes you 3 years, 4 years, or 5 years to get a degree, it's not about the time you put in, it's about what you accomplish and the experience you get based on the time you put in. Failure isn't an option, it's an opportunity to do better. The next time you make an important decision, think about the consequences, pros, and cons as well as how your experience will change based on your decision. It's never one thing. College isn't just about studying. College isn't just about partying either. It should be "perfectly balanced, as all things should be."
Congrats to Eduardo Zamora for earning a degree in Computer Science !
What are your plans after graduation?
Industry job, Graduate School (Masters in STEM)
We know that this journey has been long. Please tell us about anyone you'd like to thank.
My parents, for supporting me as best they can
Getting to graduation isn't easy. Are there any resources on campus that helped you make it this far? How so?
The libraries were great to meet with groups
College has its ups and downs. Would you share with us a favorite moment?
Exploring the nature around campus
Any advice for students starting in Fall 2020?
Wash your hands