Author Archives: Lydell Martin

UC Day in DC Student Delegate: Jose Tapia

Posted on by

If it were not for the grants he was offered, Jose might not have chosen to go to UCLA or might have had to take on crippling student debt.

Jose Tapia is currently a fourth year undergraduate student who transferred to UCLA. His major is Political Science with a minor in Public Affairs. Growing up in South Los Angeles, Jose lived in a working class neighborhood. While a student at Lynwood High School, he began to consider pursuing higher education, deciding the best route for him was to attend community college. He received his associate’s degree in photography while fulfilling the requirements to transfer to a four-year university.

Continue reading →

UC Day in DC Student Delegate: Breana Weaver

Posted on by

Breana aspires to disrupt the cycle of poverty, dismantling socio-economic class as a determinant for success.

Breana Weaver is a fourth year undergraduate student at UCLA who will graduate in June 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communication Studies. She was accepted into the prestigious Coro Fellowship for Public Policy and will begin the program in September. She has interned in UCLA’s Government Relations office for three years, advocating for higher education and taking part in meetings with UCLA’s chancellor, as well as elected officials and community partners in Los Angeles. Additionally, she has worked with the Liberty Hill Foundation and UCLA’s Bunche Center for African American Studies.

Continue reading →

UC Day in DC Student Delegate: Nico Gervasoni

Posted on by

Without financial aid, Nico would not have been able to achieve his lifelong dream to graduate from UCLA.

Nico Gervasoni became a UCLA alumnus in winter 2015 when he completed his bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in American Politics and minor in English. A lifelong Southern Californian who grew up in Simi Valley and attended Royal High School, he was raised by parents who received both undergraduate and graduate degrees. For Nico, attending UCLA was a lifelong dream.

Continue reading →

UC Day in DC Student Delegate: Karizza McAlexander

Posted on by

It wasn’t until Karizza’s older sister received grants and financial aid to attend UCLA that Karizza realized that she, too, could attend college.

Karizza McAlexander is a fourth year undergraduate student at UCLA, set to her receive her bachelor’s degree with a major in Nursing in June 2015. Since arriving from the Philippines in February 2000, Karizza moved often, but spent the majority of her life in the U.S. in a working class neighborhood in Long Beach, where she attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School.

Continue reading →

UC Day in DC Student Delegate: Susan Sorenson

Posted on by

Susan’s family of four had lived on an annual income of less than $30,000, and she did not want to accumulate student debt.

Susan Sorenson is currently a fourth year undergraduate student at UCLA. She will be graduating in June 2015 from the UCLA School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science Program. In high school, Susan knew she wanted to pursue nursing and dreamed of attending a four-year university to earn her degree.

Continue reading →

UC Day DC Social Media

Posted on by

View UC Day in DC social media posts in one convenient place.

We’re continuing the conversation about financial grants and aid through social media for UC Day DC! Please make sure you have “Liked” UCLA Advocacy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and then share and re-post our messages on your social media accounts.

Help spread the word about UC Day in DC by sharing your personal financial aid stories and following lawmakers online. Encourage your networks to share your content. Remember to use the hashtag #UCLADC and #UCDay on all your advocacy-related posts. We’ll be monitoring those hashtags in addition to #HigherEd #FinAid and reposting relevant content to our audience. Thanks for helping us make UC Day in DC go “viral!”.

Continue reading →