May 22, 2026

The UCSB Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies is incredibly proud to celebrate the remarkable research, academic excellence, and community dedication displayed by our exceptional students.

Celebrating Our Honors Students

We honor the exceptional cohort of students who completed the Honors Program, diving deep into critical research and challenging existing narratives under the invaluable guidance and mentorship of Professor Ralph Armbruster-Sandoval and Professor San Juanita Garcia. Special congratulations to those who presented their groundbreaking thesis projects:

  • Melanie Hidalgo-Garcia - My Homegirl Is That Rose That Grew From Concrete: Testimonios of Latina College Students Impacted by Parental Incarceration & Kinship Care

  • Jay Landaverde - Systemic Impacts on Latinx Youth: Forced Separation and Identity Formation

  • Angie Ocampo - Documenting the Undocumented Tercera Edad: La Lucha Eterna por la Dignidad y Hogar

Senior Award Recipients

We proudly recognize the undergraduate leaders who have demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and a profound commitment to campus and community service:

  • Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Achievement Award - "Awarded to the student with the highest overall GPA among all graduating students."

    • Major: Humberto Ibarra Ventura

    • Minor: Jenifer Ramos

  • Carlos Ornelas Service Award -  "Awarded to student(s) who have demonstrated strong commitment to community and/or campus service throughout their time in the major.”

    • Django Barnett

    • Yvonne Gonzalez Martinez

  • Acevedo Memorial Spirit Award -  "Awarded to student(s) who have demonstrated strong persistence amidst adversity throughout their time in the major.”

    • Francisco Silvia

    • Axel Valencia Alvarez

  • Most Graduate School Promise Award -  "Awarded to student(s) who have demonstrated strong potential to succeed at the graduate school-level throughout their time in the major."

    • Anahi Rosas

Graduates

Majors

  • Mark Ayllon García

  • Django Barnett

  • Kassandra Garcia-Serrano

  • Londen Glasper

  • Maritza Gomez

  • Camila Gomez

  • Krystal Gonzalez

  • Yvonne Gonzalez Martinez

  • Melanie Hidalgo-Garcia

  • Humberto Ibarra Ventura

  • Jay Landaverde

  • Angie Ocampo

  • Isabella Olvera

  • Hugo Parrilla

  • Daisy Pozos

  • Emily Puente

  • Dafne Reyes

  • Sheccid Rodriguez

  • Anahi Rosas

  • Francisco Silvia

  • Axel Valencia Alvarez

  • Jose Vega

Minors

  • Loren Araya

  • Chloe Banks

  • Celeste Cortez Herrera

  • Michelle Flores

  • Cynthia Flores

  • Melissa Garcia

  • Emily Gonzalez

  • Antonio Gonzalez-Bradford

  • Desiree Lopez

  • Kimberly Ortiz

  • Jonathan Perez

  • Jenifer Ramos

  • Samantha Rios

  • Eli Rivera

  • Jessica Robles

  • Chloee Robles

  • Kattia Saucedo

  • Valeria Torres