Campus News
Championing community transformation
For his service to his community and the public, Abel Pineda received the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award on Oct. 27, 2023.
The Alumni Association at UC Santa Cruz is proud to present this year’s honorees of the UCSC Alumni Awards. These awards recognize and honor alumni who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievements, made distinct contributions to society, provided impactful contributions to UCSC, and who have embodied the values and spirit of the university.
For his service to his community and the public, Abel Pineda received the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award on Oct. 27, 2023.
Abel Pineda was very intentional in choosing to attend UC Santa Cruz and what he planned to do after graduation: To return home to serve the City of San Pablo where he was born and raised. Pineda came to UCSC with the purpose of gaining the knowledge and skills he needed to better understand the issues facing his community and how to address them.
The first in his family to go to college, Pineda graduated from UCSC in 2014 with a B.A. in sociology. Five years later, he became the youngest person ever elected to the San Pablo City Council, and in 2022 became the youngest ever elected as the city’s mayor.
Pineda’s dedication to public service was profoundly influenced when he lost his best friend to gang violence while still in high school. He became determined to make radical changes in his community.
“As somebody that was born and raised in San Pablo, I got a chance to see our community go through so much. I knew that we deserved better, that we deserved a better shot at having complete lives, having great jobs, feeling safe in our schools and community, and having access to healthcare resources and programs. I look at it through that lens because I grew up in this community. It’s very personal to me.”
In recognition of his dedication and service, UCSC awarded Pineda with the first-ever Outstanding Recent Alumni Award on Oct. 27.
“This is a recognition that means a lot to me personally because it not only represents the hard work and sacrifices that I’ve made to obtain a higher education, but also the support and encouragement that I’ve received by my mentors, colleagues, and the community that I serve,” Pineda said. “So I really appreciate and value this so much, because it’s also a testament of the power of education, public service, and making a positive impact on people’s lives.”