When people ask Angelica Mendoza what she wants to do, she says, 鈥淚 want to do it all.鈥
In her experience at the 糖心vlog视频, she loved the ability to explore many things. That鈥檚 how she came to be graduating in June with a double major and a triple minor. 鈥淚 love to ask questions.鈥
In recognition of her academic excellence and serving as an inspirational leader and activist on campus, Mendoza was awarded the 2019 UW Bothell Chancellor鈥檚 Medal, which is presented at Commencement by the chancellor.
A love of learning
鈥淎ngelica showed her commitment to learning with her two majors and three minors, and she inspired others as a first-generation student leading the Latinx Student Union and advocating for social justice,鈥 Chancellor Wolf Yeigh said. 鈥淎ngelica will continue to lead positive change in our community and beyond.鈥
As a high school student in Marysville, Washington, Mendoza developed an interest in media. So, her first major at UW Bothell was Media & Communication Studies. As the first in her family to go to college, she wasn鈥檛 certain what it meant to minor in a subject. When she discovered that option, Mendoza added minors in Diversity Studies and in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies (GWSS).
In her junior year, Mendoza started working in the office for the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, eventually becoming the lead undergraduate assistant. 鈥淲hat happens if I add another major and minor?鈥 she asked her own adviser, who questioned what she was doing but finally agreed it could be done.
So, Mendoza added a major in American & Ethnic Studies and another minor in Health Studies.
If she weren鈥檛 busy enough, in her junior year, Mendoza also was president of the Latinx Student Union and active in the Student Diversity Center.
By the time she became a senior, Mendoza felt the symptoms of burnout. 鈥淲anting to be there for everyone is draining,鈥 she said.
Feeling stress forced Mendoza to consider her own health and self-care. She decided to 鈥渇ocus on the good stuff鈥 and found joy in her first love 鈥 media.
Opening new doors
Mendoza started hosting the 鈥淭remenda Diosa (Tremendous Goddess)鈥 radio show on UWave radio, the campus internet station. The mix of music and talk every Thursday evening celebrated women of color and shared information to help other first-generation or marginalized students.
鈥淢y being on the radio has opened a lot of doors for me, and it has opened doors for others,鈥 Mendoza said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had people tell me their lives have changed, because they hear themselves.鈥
UWave radio, free and accessible to students, is an underappreciated resource for sharing knowledge. 鈥淪torytelling is revolutionary,鈥 Mendoza said.
In addition, she mentored students in the Academic Transition Program, which helps students overcome adversity and succeed in college. Mendoza was the first person to receive a new Founders Fellow Conference Travel Award and attended The Empowering Women of Color conference at Berkeley, California. She also was awarded the 2019 Feminist Praxis Award, which recognizes GWSS students who demonstrate inspiring and impactful feminist practices.
To everyone who congratulates Mendoza as the chancellor鈥檚 medalist, she says it also belongs to other women of color on campus, particularly those in a project, which recently won support from T-Mobile.
鈥淲omen of color on this campus kept me together,鈥 she said.
An example for others
Mendoza, who said she learned outspokenness from her mother and kindness from her grandmother, is proud to be an example for her two younger sisters and a younger brother. Because of her, they are interested in going to college.
鈥淚 want to be that person that they see cross that stage and get that diploma,鈥 Mendoza said.
After graduating, Mendoza plans to continue 鈥淭remenda Diosa鈥 as a podcast and said she will look for ways to continue building community.
