<b>Briefly describe how you learned about Santa Clara University. (150 words maximum)</b>

I first learned about Santa Clara during a college fair held in Sacramento last year. I became very interested in SCU when the college representative told me about the university and the strong academic reputation of the computer engineering department and the dual BS/MS degree opportunities. Also, being located in Silicon Valley, one of the most important areas for computer software and hardware development, really heightened my interest. I left the college fair ready to research more.
My research concluded with Santa Clara being my dream school. The academic opportunities, especially the undergraduate research opportunities, the ideal location of Santa Clara’s beautiful campus, the computer science and engineering program with a concentration in robotics, and the student life appeal to me the most. I also visited the SCU campus in March during the VEX Robotics California State Championships which affirmed that Santa Clara University is where I would best thrive.
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<b>Santa Clara University's strategic vision promises to educate citizens and leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion and cultivate knowledge and faith to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world. What aspect of SCU’s strategic vision appeals to you? Why? (between 150 - 300 words)</b>
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The aspect of Santa Clara University’s strategic vision that appeals to me the most is the goal to build a more sustainable world. Today, technology is often viewed as the bane of nature, destroying every natural thing in its path. At SCU, I hope to be able to turn this misguided idea around and be able to use my abilities to help build a more humane, just, and sustainable world.
During my high school junior year, I joined the Arcade Creek Project, a nationally renowned program dedicated to collecting data and restoring the Arcade Creek, a local waterway here in Sacramento. I contributed to the project by managing the website and spreading awareness of our goals. I have come to understand how important building a sustainable environment is and, as this year’s manager of the technology team, I plan to contribute even more to the cause.
The Arcade Creek Project is only the first step toward achieving my goals for sustainability. As a member of the Arcade Creek Project, I often attend lectures by other environmentalists. Although my strong point is not in ecology, but rather is in computer science and engineering, I nevertheless realize how my abilities can contribute to the overall project. I plan to use my expertise to create realistic 3D maps of an area and to help predict environmental changes based on surface water data. At Santa Clara University, I hope to be able to conduct more research, and hone my skills, eventually giving back even more to the community and the environment.