The History Department is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021-2022 First Generation Student Scholarships: Jaclyn Quan and Sabrina Nguyen!
The First Generation Student Scholarship was established in 2021 by former and current History Department Chairs Matt O’Hara and Lynn Westerkamp, and aims to support first generation students’ pursuit of their academic goals.
As a History major at UC Santa Cruz, Jaclyn Quan “[has] had the fortunate opportunity to become immersed in an enriching and engaging intellectual environment in the humanities and social sciences. Through class lectures, discussion sections, and reading materials, my professors have exposed me to a diverse range of perspectives and approaches to interpreting historical events or dialectical materials.” Jaclyn is “particularly interested in studying the role that US interventionism has played in the political development of countries in Latin and Central America... [as well as] the emergence of leftist movements in this particular region during the mid-twentieth century.” She plans to use scholarship funds “to support my academic studies and interests in undergraduate research. More specifically, I would like to use the funds to support proposing research on the Nicaraguan Revolution of the 1960s-1970s, a topic that I am interested in exploring because it aligns with my historical interests. My research topic on the Nicaraguan Revolution will focus on the US support for the Somoza Regime and the emergence of and popular support for the leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).”
In her own words, Sabrina Nguyen was “first drawn to the idea of Classics due to a long-term interest in Ancient Mediterranean myth and culture.” Additionally, “one of the main benefits and reasons as to why I decided to study this subject is because of its interdisciplinary nature. I’ve always been interested in foreign languages, literature, history, and art history, so being able to combine various aspects of these fields and learning about Greece and Rome through multiple perspectives and voices is something I look forward to pursuing.” Sabrina also believes that Classical Studies “will help to shape me as an individual, allowing me to further develop important skills such as clear communication, expansive thinking, and deep analytical skills.” Sabrina plans to use the scholarship to study abroad, ideally to a place where she can “study and interact with Greek and Roman material culture.”
Congratulations to Jaclyn and Sabrina on their many accomplishments! The History Department wishes them nothing but the best in their future endeavors, at UC Santa Cruz and beyond.
