Author: Rachel Raiyani
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Alumna María Ramos Bracamontes champions indigenous farmworker health and justice
María Ascención Ramos Bracamontes (Merrill ’02, language studies and Latino American and Latino studies) is a certified midwife, community activist, and founder of mutual aid organization Campesina Womb Justice, advocating and supporting farmworker women’s health.
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On the rise: Alumna August Lee Stevens makes her way in the Bay Area music scene
August Lee Stevens’s music career has taken off since her time at UC Santa Cruz. Stevens wrote her first single in her dorm at UCSC and has gone on to perform at a Warriors playoff game, open for Smokey Robinson, and hold a residency at the SF Jazz Festival.
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UCSC alumna Quressa Robinson expands representation in publishing
As a literary agent, Quressa Robinson (Oakes ‘03, literature) uses her influence to bring diverse, nuanced stories to young adult readers.
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Engineered imagination
UC Santa Cruz alumna Lisa Winter (Porter ’09, art) brings an artist’s eye to the arena of combat robotics—evolving from childhood Robot Wars competitor to BattleBots judge and robotics entrepreneur.
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The creation of the Cigarette Surfboard
Alumnus Ben Judkins’s (Kresge ’17, film and digital media) award-winning documentary follows the creation of the Cigarette Surfboard: A surfboard created by friend Taylor Lane from 10,000+ cigarette butts collected off beaches. Judkins’s documentary has helped influence legislation in Santa Cruz County, and will be screened at UC Santa Cruz on March 8.
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Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship supports veteran students for over 16 years
The Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship, named after late veteran and former UC Santa Cruz staff member Bruce Lane, supports veteran students at UC Santa Cruz.
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Breaking barriers and guiding others
As an outreach specialist with UC Santa Cruz’s Underground Scholars Program, Sammy Chavez (Rachel Carson ’25, Latin American and Latino studies and sociology) supports students navigating complex challenges in higher education. While completing his own degree, he was recognized with the Silver Slug Scholarship as a staff member pursuing his studies.
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Rooted in community
Alumna Dora Maria Beyer (Merrill ’09, Latin American & Latino studies, politics) was recently named one of Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 for her work assisting low-income communities as director of community development with Excite Credit Union.
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UCSC Retiree Elaine Kihara gives back to Santa Cruz community
At UC Santa Cruz, retirees have a wealth of opportunities to volunteer and make an impact. See how UCSC retiree Elaine Kihara is making a difference at Grey Bears in Santa Cruz.
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Leading by listening: Marianas Fernandez’s journey to becoming a student leader
UCSC student Marianas Fernandez excels in academics, activism, and athletics, earning recognition and awards for her leadership and contributions.
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Creating community and change: Sharhonda Bossier’s path from UCSC to education leadership
Sharhonda Bossier, a UCSC undergraduate and graduate alumna and current CEO of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC), credits the support and community she found at UCSC for shaping her career in education leadership.
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Looking back and moving forward: Alumni Reunion Weekend 2024
With nearly 200 alumni, family, and friends in attendance, Alumni Reunion Weekend, held April 14-15, was filled with reminiscing, rekindling, and reuniting.