In a heartwarming display of Banana Slug spirit, UC Santa Cruz parent Kayleen Maya is creating community, lifting spirits, and helping students feel connected to home.
Maya organized a group of Southern California families to send personalized care packages to their students before finals. Filled with fun items like bandanas, highlighters, popcorn, stress balls, candy, socks, and more, the packages were an encouraging touch from home during what can be challenging times for students.
“These kids, they’re working so hard,” Maya says. “These packages remind them that we’re rooting for them.”
Maya provided the pre-paid mailing box and each participating family brought an item to add to the care box. They created an assembly line to build, fill, and label the box.
Maya says that putting all the care packages together created a wonderful opportunity for UCSC parents to talk about shared experiences and concerns, connect, and build relationships. Maya and her husband, Gil Aviles, initially developed this strong network of Slug families by posting on the UCSC Parents' Facebook page.
“Connecting with other families is important,” Maya says. “I just put it out there and was amazed by the big response. We’re in Pasadena, so far away [from Santa Cruz]; getting to know other families helps. And, then, knowing that we’re supporting our children means a lot.”
Maya’s son, Sebastian Aviles-Maya (Stevenson ’26, electrical engineering), says getting his care package from home boosted his spirits.
"When I opened the box, it made me remember why I’m in college and the importance of achieving my goals,” he said. “All I want to do is make my parents proud, and I'll stop at nothing to achieve that."
Maya is thrilled to be able to support her son and other UCSC students, saying that UCSC has provided Sebastian with many opportunities and room for growth.
“He’s really gone through a transformation there [at UC Santa Cruz],” she says. “You know, when you drop your child off, you just hope that people will be there to support and guide them. And I’ve been so happy with the support he’s gotten at UCSC.”
Maya proudly shared that through UCSC connections and support—and a lot of perseverance—Sebastian has been accepted to the GANAS career internship program at UCSC, secured a paid fellowship to promote STEM among Latinx and Black high school students this past summer, and will start an internship with NASA this fall.
“I know this isn’t a story about my son, but it does relate back to the networks we’ve created, the support he has,” Maya says. “Sebastian is on this great trajectory, and on track to keep progressing in his major and making important career connections. This is just the beginning of all his growth.”
