Changing Lives: Back to the Farm

When they began their studies at UC Santa Barbara in the 1980s, Greg Massa and Rachel Krach would never have imagined themselves where they are today: growing organic crops on a family farm outside of Chico. But a tropical biology program in Costa Rica sparked an appreciation of the role of agriculture in ecology and kindled a love – for farming and for each other – that redefined the course of their life.

Witnessing History: Arab Spring

UC Berkeley student Justin Hinton was taking classes in broadcast journalism as part of his semester in Egypt when he found himself at the center of world events. As the Tahrir Square protests erupted around him, Hinton took his camera onto the streets, posting his film dispatches to YouTube and sharing a first-hand glimpse into history unfolding.

Witnessing History: Cold War Europe

In 1962, UC Santa Barbara junior Leslie Zomalt was among the first group of students to study in Bordeaux, France through the newly launched UC Education Abroad Program. Among her experiences, the history major traveled to Germany to see Kennedy speak at the Berlin Wall, and ended up watching the historic "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech with a family that had been divided by the Wall's construction.

Changing the World: Building a Clinic, Bridging Worlds

While studying abroad in Ghana, UCEAP participant Jeremy Kirshbaum launched an effort to help residents of a remote mountain village construct a life-saving medical clinic. Through ecotourism, bead sales and benefit concerts, UC Santa Cruz students are helping residents of this mountain community acquire critical funding and health resources, while forging enduring connections across continents and cultures.

Changing the World: Growing Young Leaders

After only a short time in India, UC Riverside student Samantha Wilson wanted to make a difference in the country. Upon returning home, the then-junior began working with schools in South India to develop a curriculum that would shift the focus from creating child laborers to creating child leaders. With the program now serving over 100 children in South India, Wilson has now brought the Child Leader Project home to Riverside, serving local youth through a community garden and an exchange program that brings the youngsters to India to connect with fellow participants.

Changing Lives: Renaissance Man

At 12 years old, Los Angeles resident Mario Trejo saw only one path for himself – to follow his brothers into gangs. In his senior year of high school, good grades and an interest in medicine led to his being encouraged to apply to the University of California, which changed the course of his life. But it wasn’t until, as a UC Merced junior, Trejo realized an impossible dream and spent a semester in Florence studying Italian that he was able to truly transcend his difficult history and realize the extent of what he was capable.