Help Andrea Finish Her Degree At UCSC

Hello everyone,

My name is Andrea Lopez (she/her), and I’m a 23-year-old student of Indigenous and Mexican descent pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Over the past year, I’ve faced a number of difficult challenges—most significantly, housing insecurity due to ongoing financial aid complications. After being denied aid last year, I had to leave UCSC with the plan to return once I completed the necessary community college credits. I did just that—fulfilled the requirements and was officially readmitted last quarter. I had secured housing, registered for classes, and was ready to finish my degree.

Unfortunately, due to yet another issue with financial aid, I was denied funding again at the last minute. This forced me to move out of my housing, made me houseless once more, and left me with a $30,000 university bill that I can’t pay out of pocket.

I’m only three classes away from graduating. I’ve worked incredibly hard to get to this point—not just academically, but also as an active member of the UCSC community. I’ve held multiple leadership and student support positions on campus, and I’ve always tried to give back by creating space for others. I'm committed, resilient, and passionate about social justice and equity—which is why I'm majoring in Sociology in the first place.

As hard as it is to ask for help, I’m reaching out because I truly want to finish what I started. Without family financial support and no response from UCSC’s financial aid leadership despite my repeated attempts to connect, I’m turning to my community.

If you’re able to contribute anything at all, please know that it means the world to me. Every dollar helps me move closer to the finish line. Thank you for reading, supporting, and sharing.

With gratitude,

Andrea Lopez