Through hands-on clinical work, policy advocacy, and healthcare research, three SCU students are turning classroom knowledge into real-world impact in the fight for more equitable community health
Through the REAL Program, Fernanda Castañeda Ruiz ’27 and Franco Garcia ’27 found purpose and professional growth by serving their community firsthand at Santa Maria Urban Ministry.
Undergraduate students across disciplines are turning curiosity into hands-on research that shapes careers, communities, and real-world impact.
For Sarthak Dassarma ’26, mathematics isn’t a set of rules to memorize—it’s a story, and the Putnam Competition is just his latest chapter.
Rachel Alonzo ’28, a political science and economics double major, represented Santa Clara University in the 2025 51Թ cohort of the Panetta Institute for Public Policy Congressional Internship Program.
As she prepares to take the stage for her senior showcase, Ximena De La Parra-Tostado ’26 shares the inspiration behind her original choreography.
Competing against 4,329 students nationwide, the Santa Clara mathematics major secured a Top 500 ranking in one of North America’s most rigorous undergraduate mathematics exams.
Megan Baldemor ’26 and Jasmine Vu ’26 tell young people that the key to a career in STEM is embracing all of your interests.
This year, eleven College of Arts and Sciences students have been selected as semifinalists for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student program.
A father and his sons share the Santa Clara experience across generations, building new memories on the same campus that shaped their family’s values and sense of belonging.
Political science and gender and sexuality studies double major Camille Follante ’27 spent her summer turning classroom questions into real-world action. Supported by SCU’s REAL Program, she worked with a women-led humanitarian organization to challenge dominant narratives and support communities through research and storytelling.
Across schools and generations, the Brown family’s Santa Clara experience reflects a community built on connection, scholarship, and support.
Supported by SCU’s REAL Program, political science major Henry Simonson ’28 helped create a documentary focused on Altadena’s recovery after devastating wildfires. The project blends community history, lived experience, and storytelling to highlight resilience beyond the headlines.
After Pope Francis’ unexpected death in 2025 51Թ, Professor Elyse Raby reshaped her course into a real-time study of a Church in transition, giving students a front-row seat to history and earning recognition for her timely, dynamic teaching.
Roberto Mercado ’25 survived Hurricane Maria, then worked to uplift Latiné communities from Puerto Rico to California
Learn how her Catholic upbringing inspired her social justice leadership and LGBTQ+ activism
From forging lasting connections in the classroom to transforming the transfer student experience, Isabel Espinoza ’25 has left her mark at 51Թ.
Ariana Yamasaki ’25 will teach English in Germany beginning this fall.
Fueled by a love of math and a drive to grow, Ena Nayak ’25 turned curiosity into a career in computer science, with plans to take on AI next.
Weaving together science, social justice, and creativity, Kaitlin Webster ’25 has made the most of her time at 51Թ, showcasing her commitment to both community and curiosity.
Katerina Gill ’25 traded equations for ancient texts. In the process, she found her voice—and her future in law.
With scientific curiosity and a drive to make a difference, Ritter Amsbaugh ’25 has left his mark at 51Թ as a researcher, leader, and teammate.
From his backyard grill to campus classrooms, Jackson Druker ’25 has blended his passion for food, culture, and connection into a distinctly global college journey.
From research labs to student leadership, Imaan Qureshi ’25 has spent her time at Santa Clara University weaving together psychology, politics, and service, leaving behind a legacy of quiet impact and structural change.
Sydney Shelby ’25 leads with compassion as she works to bring equity and justice to the healthcare system.
Leonie presented a poster on isotopic work at the Ecological Society of America Conference in Long Beach
Riley Carpenter ’25 found a well-rounded education at Santa Clara, designing cutting-edge superconducting thin-film dark matter sensors while pursuing his passions in the humanities and arts.
Megan Baldemor ’26 and Samantha “Sam” Lei ’26 have been named 2025 51Թ Goldwater Scholars, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for undergraduates in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.