Riverside Community College District Student Awarded UCLA TAP Scholarship

Austin Barraza, a student at Norco College of the Riverside Community College District, arrived at Norco College from UC San Diego after experiencing indecision about his major and financial concerns. Working full time and with no support system in place, Austin’s first semester at Norco was a challenge. In spring 2013 he enrolled in his first honors course. Barraza credits the Honors Program at Norco College with helping him find his focus in college. “Honors helped put me back on track,” Barraza said. Barraza, 21, attended UC San Diego for a year before deciding to transfer to Norco College. A graduate of Rancho Cucamonga High School and a first-generation college student, he felt pressure to attend a four-year university after high school. “While I don't regret any of my experiences at UC San Diego, I quickly realized that it wasn't for me,” Barraza said. “Academically, I was lost. I didn't make the transition from being in a class of 50 to being in a class of 100. I was also concerned financially, as I had no means of paying for my sophomore year other than taking out loans, with the majority (of the financial responsibility) falling on my parents.” Though it was disheartening to leave UC San Diego, Barraza knew it was in his best interest to return home and regroup. At Norco College, he found his niche and a sense of an academic community, something he said he lacked at UC San Diego. While participating in the Honors Program, he chose to major in Political Science and also discovered new interests in philosophy, economics, and religious studies. “Initially, I felt out of place at Norco. But as I got further involved with the Honors Program, I began to create a niche for myself,” he said. “Now I have a sense of academic and professional direction. Additionally, living at home allowed me to continue to work and save aggressively for my future educational costs. I'm thankful for this level of clarity and attribute it greatly to my decision to leave San Diego and enroll at Norco.” Through the Honors Program, he also became involved in campus activities and participated in the RCCD and HTCC Student Research Conferences. Barraza is the recipient of Honors Transfer Council of California Exemplary Achievement Scholarship and the Phi Theta Kappa Academic Award. Barraza graduated from Norco College in June and is now attending summer session at UCLA. He hopes to obtain a doctorate degree in political science and continue with academic research, eventually returning to the community college system as a faculty member.