The Class of 2025: Transforming Experiences into Legacy

But Aguilar confronted her challenges head-on, taking advantage of every office hour and support session from faculty and meeting monthly with advisors.

Switching from a biology major, Aguilar was worried about falling behind her peers. However, with the help of Monica Rodriguez, an academic liaison for Ethnic Studies at the Office for Students with Disabilities, Aguilar decided to focus on a field about which she felt more strongly. “I was optimistic about my future and could explore what I was interested in, which ultimately became immigration and environmental justice issues,” she said. “I’m proud of myself for not sticking to a plan that did not make me happy, and I’m proud of myself for overcoming a fear, all while taking control of my life and plans.”

With this change, what was once uncertain to her became a passion. She was able to participate in a group project that raised awareness of health resources for immigrants in low-income communities. The project made her feel connected to her background and she realized her love for the material and subject matter.

Aguilar plans to continue her education and pursue her master’s degree in Chicano and Chicana studies at California State University, Northridge. She strives to advocate for those whose voices have been neglected, and plans to work with nonprofits that advocate and provide services for migrants and their families.

Julie Dang, B.A. in anthropology with a concentration in climate change and human solutions, minor in urban studies and planning

Julie Dang’s experience during her time at UC San Diego is a testament to her resilience and unwavering strength. Having gone through a circumstance that no one should endure, she now graduates with a bright future ahead of her.

After the passing of both her parents, Dang took it upon herself to care for her younger sibling, sacrificing her education for the sake of her family. Taking up work to support her family and dropping in and out of school multiple times, Dang was determined to fulfill her family’s wish for a better life.

Against all odds, Dang earned her associate’s degree at a community college and transferred to UC San Diego, where she is completing her bachelor’s degree.

Dang’s many challenges didn’t stop her from making the most out of her time as a Triton. She served as the transfer representative for the Seventh College Student Council, and stated, “My biggest joys in this community are being able to be the voice of reasoning and being able to advocate for the needs of my student population, especially as a transfer student.”

Her distinctive story stands as an inspiration to many who struggle with challenges outside of school. “I hope to give back to my community by inspiring change within so many generations of people,” said Dang. “I want to build relationships and show myself that I am resilient and capable of turning potential into progress.”

Kristhian Ortiz, B.S. in computer science

Kristhian Ortiz is no ordinary graduate. Born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, English isn’t Ortiz’s first language, requiring him to depend on Google Translate even to understand class material. In the summer between graduating high school and starting UC San Diego, Ortiz enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserves to help with the financial burden of higher education, becoming the first in his family to join the military as an information systems technician.

Eventually, Ortiz returned to UC San Diego, and simultaneously became a chef at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, a student software engineer at UC San Diego Information Technology Services and a CSE 12 tutor. Pouring hours into academics and research, Ortiz built a name for himself within the Computer Science and Engineering department.

Ortiz isn’t graduating without leaving his mark. Having worked on the UC San Diego campus app, Ortiz takes pride in his team’s work on the redesign of the app’s UI, which makes it more readable and boosts performance. “This project helped me become a better programmer, and it directly impacts the whole campus-wide student (and staff) community because they now have access to more resources within the app with a brand new design,” he said.

Pursuing a master’s in computer science at UC San Diego, Ortiz hopes to return to his roots and impact his community. “I want to help everyone around me,” he shared. “I want to raise my hometown, Tijuana, to the level of San Diego, bridging the gap between the two sister cities. It would extend so many opportunities to both sides and help countless generations to come. I’d love to make that a faster reality.”

Abigail Penate, Master of Education

Abigail Penate was on track to start her Master of Education degree at UC San Diego before receiving the worst news of her life: her father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Without hesitation, Penate made the choice to rescind her acceptance and spend time with her father.

During that time, Penate reapplied to the same program, rewriting essays and securing new recommendations. Her father unfortunately passed, but not before celebrating the news that his daughter would be fulfilling her dream, as she had been accepted again into the program.

Penate expressed gratitude to her friends and professors for their support as she struggled to navigate between graduate school and grieving her father. She hopes to teach before returning to the university to earn her doctorate in education.

Now graduating with her master’s degree, Penate carries the memory of her father with her. “My favorite memory was when I graduated from undergrad,” she shared. “I remember meeting up with my 20+ family members after the ceremony, and all of them started cheering for me. I put my graduation cap on my dad's head and my stoles around my mom's neck. Their youngest and only daughter graduating from college was a huge accomplishment for them too and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

Ava Fagee, B.S. in environmental systems: ecology, behavior, and evolution

To many, knowing what major to pursue doesn’t come easily. But, for Ava Fagee, personal experience became the foundation for her academic journey.

When extended family visited California from Iran, Fagee noticed respiratory damage and adverse effects in her relatives due to the pollution in Tehran. She knew something had to be done. “I realized I could not stand idle while pollution continued to plague people’s health in my home country and around the globe,” she shared.

As the catalyst for her desire to pursue environmental conservation, Fagee participated in efforts to learn more and involve herself within the community. One of these efforts was the EcoNauts, a sustainability group on campus where Fagee led a campus-wide composting initiative; she developed educational magnets for dorm fridges to help students sort waste properly. “Through our meetings discussing campus sustainability projects, hosting programs to educate students, and creating media to amplify our goals, I found my community at UC San Diego,” said Fagee. “It has been very fulfilling to be able to make a direct impact on the campus and students.”

Fagee now sets her sights on earning her master's degree at Scripps Institution of Oceanography while conducting research in the Climate Change Epidemiology Lab. After completing her master’s, she plans to attend medical school, where she hopes to combine environmental research and medicine to address health issues exacerbated by climate change.

“Graduating feels incredibly bittersweet,” she said. “I know I have gained so much throughout these past four years, and I am excited to apply my knowledge and experiences to my future endeavors. While it’s hard to close this chapter, I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned and apply it toward my future endeavors. Attending UC San Diego has truly been a privilege, and I feel forever grateful to have called it home.”

Matthew Tillyer, Master of International Affairs

Matthew Tillyer has done his part in making the world a better place. As an advocate for students living with mobility issues and with a keen interest in housing and working with unsheltered individuals in San Diego, Tillyer stands as a champion for those in need.

As a manual wheelchair user, Tillyer was concerned with accommodations to his living space. However, with generations of disability rights advocacy on his side, Tillyer worked together with UC San Diego’s Office for Students with Disabilities to make the most of his college experience. Tillyer even worked as a Residential Assistant in the Village Area, creating a life for himself on campus.

Crediting Ivonne Montano, Housing Dining Hospitality Housing Liaison, Tillyer showcased his gratitude for Montano’s diligence in making his time living and learning at UC San Diego so seamless and accommodating.

Roadblocks also haven’t stopped Tillyer’s desire to help others. He volunteeried at The Compass Station, a local resource center in Pacific Beach for those experiencing homelessness. His interest in homelessness and the housing crisis in San Diego continued to expand as he took a two-quarter sequence in the Urban Studies and Planning department, where he used the knowledge he had learned to secure an internship with a San Diego County elected official who had worked extensively on housing issues.

Looking towards the future, Tillyer hopes to create change for his community. “I have really enjoyed my time at UCSD and have love learning from my peers and professors over the past 5 years so there is some sadness leaving. However, I am excited to take the knowledge and skills I have acquired into the professional world to make positive change in the policy areas I am passionate about.”