2017 Welcome Leaders
Welcome Week 2017
Welcome Leaders are a critical part of Fall Welcome Week at Cowell College!
Cowell Welcome Leaders (WLs) are a committed group of volunteer students, who assist new Cowell frosh and transfer students during Fall Move-In and Welcome Week. WLs work cooperatively with residential and college staff to help new students meet each other, learn about resources, and become a part of Cowell's vibrant community. WLs also help with college-wide programs throughout the year.
If you have a question, idea, or want to get involved, Welcome Leaders are here to help. Learn a bit about your 2017-18 WLs below. They share their interests, fun facts, and what they remember from when they were new to campus. We look forward to meeting you!
Meet Our Welcome Leaders
Tonia Brito-Bersi
I am a 2nd year Environmental Studies major from the Central Valley. I used to live in a small mountainous town a few hours from the Oregon/California border. I’ve been surrounded by nature for the majority of my life, this is what brought me to UC Santa Cruz. The Environmental Studies program feels like home to me. I have special interest in the social and political implications of environmental change as well as the natural systems that keep humans alive: soil and atmosphere. The classes I've taken have supported my interests. I would love to talk with others who are interested in the department! My favorite part about Welcome Week was getting the chance to develop friendships before classe
s started. Sharing experiences and getting to know people in a relaxed environment is always fun. I’m enthusiastic about helping people make friends. I’m an extrovert, frisbee and ukulele playing dancer/barista, who loves getting to know just about anyone so don’t be shy. 
Hannah Meyer
Hi there beautiful beings! I am a 4th year Psychology major. In addition to being a Welcome Leader I, lead the meditation club on campus, volunteer at the animal shelter, and love to make music and visual art. My favorite classes are astronomy classes. Wh
ile I can’t recall every detail taught in the class, I think it’s awesome to learn about things that are outside the bounds of your general interests. This will be my 3rd year as a Welcome Leader. I love Welcome Week because I get to work with an amazing team of volunteers. I love helping people discover what a wonderful place Cowell College is.
Phil Canete
I am from Granite Bay, a suburb outside Sacramento. I was born in Chicago and I used to live in a McAllen, Texas. McAllen is a small town 10 miles from the Mexican-American border! I’m a second year planning to major in Electrical Engineering. I chose this major because it is the only ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.) major here at UCSC.
My favorite class has been, “Computational Assembly Enlightenment”. It was taught by favorite lecturer, Max Dunne. I have a wide range of hobbies: Minecraft, lock picking, knitting, and playing the ukulele. I love to workout, OPERS has enough weight racks to fill the entire room. Come talk to me if you want to learn about STEM opportunities or, the progress ive fight for social reform. You can come talk to me if you need help with your schedule, planning for classes, or anything else. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
Aimee Foy
Hey there, welcome to UCSC! I am super excited to be your Welcome Leader. I know you will enjoy Welcome Week as much as I did. I am from San Jose. Santa Cruz has a very special place in my heart because when I was yo
unger, I used to visit. I am a second year majoring in Marine Biology. I chose the major because I am interested in our oceans and its ecosystems. During my first quarter I took the “Life in the Sea” class and loved it. UC Santa Cruz has a great Marine Biology program. If you are interested in learning more about these, don’t hesitate to come talk to me. In high school, I was a Varsity Swimmer. I still swim for fun. I have many interests, I like to dance, watch Netflix, and hangout with friends. Some of my favorite things are sea turtles, dogs, and chips and guacamole. I enjoy talking to people so don’t be afraid to ask me anything.
Austin Wood
I am from Elk Grove, south of Sacramento. I’m a second year Physics major and Philosophy minor. I love guitar, sports, reading, video games, Astronomy, and exploring. My favorite part of Welcome Week was the time I explored our beautiful campus, leaving no stone unturned. I’ve always been intrigued by the natural world. I am great at math so Physics was a no-brainer for me. However, during my first quarter I took an Intro to Philosophy class and loved it so much that I decided to earn a Philosophy minor. I’ve enjoyed the Physics 5 series and I am looking forward to upper division Physics courses. I like to share the things I know so, I am looking
forward to meeting new people. When I am not in class, I am doing one of the following: studying at the library, playing guitar, playing video games or, playing sports at OPERS. I played intramural sports with a group of friends and we won an intramural volleyball championship title. Don’t’ be afraid to say hello and ask me questions, especially about the hidden trails on campus.
Ray Misita
I am a 2nd year Computer Science major. My interests include water polo, video games, working out, and listening to music. You can find me jamming out to some good tunes with friends or, cooking up something mean in the kitchen (toast is my specialty)! My favorite part of Welcome Week was most definitely meeting many cool new peopl
e here at UCSC! I look forward to Welcome Week and giving you all the greatest experience possible!
Tommy Herz
Greetings to one and all! I am from Pleasanton, San Francisco Bay Area. I was raised in a nice little house around the corner from a pool. I am a 2nd year History major and Education minor. I plan on being a teacher. I picked my major because I love to learn about the events that have shaped society. In addition to being a Welcome Leader I am on the short-form improv team called, Comedy Joust. Also, I love running, swimming, and playing Ultimate Frisbee. On a rainy day you can find me hanging out with my friends watching the latest Star Wars movie. My favorite part about my Welcome
Week last year was definitely going to the Boardwalk Frolic. This year, I will be discovered for my acting talent at Cowell Night Live. I’m excited for my acting career to take off. Find me if you have questions about anything!
Patricia Mendez
Hey-Hey! What’s good Cowell fam? I am a 3rd year from San Marcos. My majors are Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I’m hoping to go into a research field where I will have the opportunity to find an alternative solution to an increased trend in antibiotic resistance. I love Chemistry and Biology so feel free to geek out with me. I am involved in the Academic Excellence program (ACE), Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Kappa Gamma Delta, an
d I volunteer at the Santa Cruz AIDS project. In my free time I immerse myself in photography, ballet/jazz, new music, painting, and hiking. My first language is Spanish, I’m a first generation student. I am open to any questions about my experiences. I am looking forward to going on hikes during Welcome Week. I can’t wait to show you the campus.
Rizal Aliga
What’s good everyone? Welcome to #sluglife. I’m grateful and feel blessed to meet all of you! I’m from Vallejo, North Bay. I’m a second year Legal Studies major and Education minor. I am a DJ/Host at college events and college radio 88.1 FM KZSC. Also, I’ve DJ/Hosted events at The Catalyst and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. In addition to being a Welcome Leader I am a, Student Admissions Ambassador, Summer Academy Mentor, and I am Sammy the Slug (UCSC’s Mascot). I hold affiliation with several clubs: Filipino Student Association (FSA), Asian-American/Pacific Islander Resource C
enter (AA/PIRC), Student Union Assembly (SUA), and Rainbow Theater. I’ve interviewed and met people that I never thought I would have the opportunity to meet. I never thought that I would accomplish so many things here at UCSC. I bring positive energy and creativity that will help you to become a better person at the end of the day. Stay hyphy and welcome to UC Santa Cruz! Feel free to say what’s u! Peace, Love, Aloha! 
Katie Beary
I’m from a small town called Rohnert Park, Northern California. I am a Literature major and Education minor. I aspire to teach high school. I love learning languages and dissecting poetry and prose. Je parle francais y un poco de espanol. I’ve been involved in the First Year Honors Program, Rainbow Theater (a multicultural theater troupe), Kinetics Poetics Project (KPP). In my spare time I love to go salsa or swing dancing, watch movies, and attend different kinds of activities. Some of those activities include, The improve group Someone Always Dies (SAD) and KPP’s event called, Open Mic.
I am most grateful for the Slam Poetry community. The community has served as my second family and has opened my eyes to the problems and techniques involving expression. I’ve made a lot of friends by attending programs and activities on campus. Some of those include: Welcome Week Karaoke, Movie Night on Parrington, and hikes. I am hoping to play some awesome tunes while building an atmosphere that makes everyone feel welcome. Although my singing and chiche jokes may make you cringe, I promise they will bring you closer to new banana slugs who will also cringe.
Lauren Watanabe
Hi. I’m from San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County. I’m a 2nd year Cognitive Science major. I aspire to become a speech pathologist. My favorite class is, Intro to Cognitive Psychology (PSY 20). If you want to know more about the major come talk to me. My hobbies include, watching Bob Ross videos and sleeping. Also, I enjoy
Anime. My Welcome Week was important to me because I made a lot of friends and I was introduced to different campus programs. If you don’t have the opportunity to make friends during welcome week, Don’t Worry! You’ll have plenty of time to make friends and find your niche. I’ll be here to help you in any way that I can so don’t be afraid to talk to me especially, if you need directions around campus. 
Finn Martinez-Owen
Hi. I am originally from Fort Bragg, a small coastal town in Northern California. I’m a 2nd year double majoring in Film and Computer Science. I am pursuing both majors because I enjoy creating many forms of digital media and I plan to have a career in the media industry. When I have free time I like to produce and
record music or, create digital visual art. Welcome Week was exciting for me because I got to meet a lot of people and make friends. I am looking forward to helping incoming Frosh step outside their comfort zones and make friends. Talk to me if you want to kick it or if you want to discuss movies and music. 
Sierra Waller
I’m from San Diego. I’m a 2nd year Film major and History minor. I love learning about film, history, design, and animation. In my free time, I like to draw, go to museums, read comics, and go on short hikes. I enjoy hiking in Pogonip and Upper Campus especially, in the winter when everything is green. Welcome
Week is an exciting time for getting to know our unique campus and the people in our community. Movie on Parrington and OPERS fest are some of my favorite events. I’m looking forward to helping incoming students discover what makes Cowell such a fun and beautiful place to live. I understand that it can be hard and even scary to make new friends, so talk to me if you need some advice or just someone to talk to. 
Dhairat Parlikar
I am from San Marcos, San Diego County. I am a 4th year majoring in Legal Studies. I chose Legal Studies because I plan to attend Law School. My favorite class at UCSC has been Astronomy. The class provides an overview of the Universe and I find space very interesting. In my spare time I like to play basketball and write short stories and screenplays. I go to sleep at 10:30pm every night and wake up at 5:30am every morning (extreme, right?)
. I’m looking forward to getting to know new students and helping them ease their way into college life. I volunteered as an assistant coach for UCSC’s Men’s Basketball team. Students should come talk to me because I adapt my personality in order to make someone feel more comfortable. 
Taylor Barkdoll
I am from Vacaville, midway between Sacramento and San Francisco. Vacaville is known for its shopping outlets and many cows. I am a 2nd year Biology major. I aspire to go into the medical field. If anyone’s goals are similar to mine, let me know! My favorite thing about Cowell is its location on campus. Cowell has beautiful view
s and it’s close to OPERS. I run Cross County and Track at UCSC. I spend my free time at the beach. At Welcome Week, I’ve met many people who became great friends. This year I am looking forward to all the fun events and meeting new people.
Aya Yoneda
I am from Salinas. I am a second year majoring in Legal Studies. I am thinking about earning a minor in Philosophy or Psychology. I chose Legal Studies because I participated in, Ethics Bowl Debate and Mock Trial in high school. At UCSC I am on the dive team. In my spare time I am either on the Internet or hanging out with
friends. I’m excited to be a Welcome Leader. My Welcome Week felt like summer camp. It was such a great experience. There are so many activities to do and I got to know a lot of people that I ended up living with. Feel free to seek me out if you want to learn more about the Legal Studies major or the NCAA program on campus. I would love to help you in any way that I can. 
Caelum Rodriguez
Hi all. I’m a second year Physics major. Growing up I was always the kid who asked, “why?” My major provides a lot of answers to those whys. When I am not studying I play video games (Super Smash Bros),
I go on runs and I do puzzles. Also, I am good at whistling. I look forward to meeting new faces this Welcome Week.
Ava Mills
I am from Montana, “Big Sky Country”. I moved to Davis in high school. After high school, I wanted to study Circus Arts in London but after a tour of UCSC, I fell in love with the campus. Moving here wasn’t an easy decision. Snowboarding has always been my life but in Santa Cruz, there is no snow for miles. After moving here, I realized backpacking is a good substitute for snowboarding. I am a second year experimenting with different majors. Before coming here, I wished I had known to choose a major that complements my passions. What you study in college doesn’t necessarily dictate your career path. Choose a major that you’re passionate about rather than choosing one because you think it will grant access to your id
eal career. I’m a member of Cowell Senate; I oversee the Entertainment Co-op. My hobbies include: traveling, reading, the beach, and Instagram. I try to make sure my Instagram aesthetic is on point. Some super duper fun facts about me are, I can hula-hoop on my nose, for 3 years in a row I went to the Snowboard State Championships for racing, I can drive manual stick shift, and I got a 100% in the smartphone game,“Paper io”. I am looking forward to meeting all new Cowell students during Welcome Week. I will help you get acclimated to your new home. Come talk to me about anything!
SKP (Pronounced S-K-I-P) Pham
Hello! I was born and raised in San Jose. I am a 2nd year majoring in Cognitive Science. I like running, horror films, cartoons, and gazing at the stars. Living at Cowell is great because it is close to OPERS and the East field track. Cowell’s proximity to the East field makes it one of the best places in Santa Cruz for star gazing.
My favorite part of my Welcome Week was karaoke. My roommates and I like to sing. During Welcome Week I am excited to go on the hike because I missed it last year. Also, I really love chatting about the Myers-Briggs Personality Test, conspiracy theories, Steven Universe, and make-up. I’m interested in a lot of things and I love learning about new things. I am really friendly so don’t be afraid to say, “hi”! 
Spencer Cody
I’m from Roseville, near Sacramento. My nickname is “Big Spence” because I’m 6’2”. I’m a 2nd year Physics major. I consider myself very friendly and outgoing. I enjoy surfing, working out, hiking, rainbow flip-flops, beach volleyball, Minecraft and music. My favorite part about Welcome Week is the Stevenson Bloc Party.
It will be a real hoot this year. I can’t wait to show off my sweet moves! If anyone has questions regarding the Physics major, STEM classes, working out, or any general questions about campus life, let Big Spence know. One more thing, I only drink water.
Lydia Jenkins-Sleczkowski
Hi. I’m a San Francisco native. I’m excited to start my second year living at Cowell. I may change my mind later but, right now I plan to double major in Environmental Studies and Legal Studies. You’ll have plenty of time to decide your major. You’ll take classes that will help you figure out what you want to major in. So far, my favorite memories of college happened during Welcome Week. I bonded with my roommates during Boardwalk Frolic and met friends at the block party. One of my favorite things about being a student at UCSC are the opportunities to earn hands-on experience in the field
you are passionate about. In addition to being a Welcome Leader, I am the Program Director at the Student Volunteer Center, I’ve performed with the Chautauqua Theater Festival, and I am a member of Cowell Senate. Something that I wished I had known sooner, is how fun the PE classes are at OPERS. Spring quarter freshman year, I took a ballet class and loved it. When I am not working or studying, you can find me reading Jane Austen, exploring trials on campus, window shopping downtown, or getting boba at Café Iveta on campus.
