The Team
Student Advocates are passionate about education, community, advocacy, social justice, and equity. Student Advocates are assigned to a local Title I school or a local non-profit that supports a local Title I school. Their role is to assist the school with literacy and STREAM activities that promote higher learning. Advocates also work in the center and use their paid office hours as an opportunity to share service opportunities with other college students The team consists of motivated and engaged students, each with their particular reasons for becoming student advocates.
The Student Advocates
George Castaño
Major: Biotech
Academic Goals: Bachelors in bio-manufacturing and transfer to UCSD.
"I want to leave an impact on the community and make a difference"
Alejandra Chavez-Lopez
Major: Sociology
Academic Goals: To be an immigration lawyer, to have a Jd or Ph.D.
"I want to be involved in the community now that I've gotten over my social anxiety.
I want to help the younger generation and encourage them to not give up on education."
Vanessa Harper
Major: Journalism
Academic Goal: Obtain a Bachelors
“I want to become a student advocate to help people and help myself. I will gain many
skills and I will be able to share my knowledge and experiences with others!”
Vanessa Jumalon
Major: Neuroscience
Academic Goals: Transfer to a 4-year, then a Graduate School
“I wanted to become a student advocate because I like being involved in the school
community and assisting other students to be more involved both on and outside of
campus for their own development in their passions. Additionally, communicating and
being involved would help me build skills, like leadership, for the career I hope
to be in.”
Araceli Luna
Major: My major is architecture.
Academic Goals: I would like to make friends. I would like to be part of the EChALE
stem club. Also In the future I would like to be part of the student government Association
so I can get to know better my community college and its needs.
“I want to be a student advocate because I have a passion for helping others. Helping
others teaches me how to help others and it gives me different perspectives of how
life is for different individuals.”
María José (Majo) Lombeyda
Major: Communications
Academic Goals: Succeed academically in MiraCosta and transfer to FIDM
“I wanted to become a student advocate to give back to the community. The opportunity
to help others and be there for so many people really interested me. There is always
more than we can do for our communities and being a student advocate would challenge
me to see other realities and do something about it to help.”
Jasmin Mata
Major: Business administration
Academic Goal: I hope to transfer to USD to obtain my Bachelors
“I wanted to become a student advocate because I have always been grateful for the
opportunities where I was able to give back to my community and I want to help other
students find opportunities to give back as well.”
Angel Penuelas
Major: Math
Academic Goals: To get good grades and graduate
"I want to become a Student Advocate because I want to help the community more. I
also wanted to become a Student Advocate to work with an amazing team."
Lavonniee Pyant
Major: Nutrition and Dietetics
Academic Goals: Transfer to SDSU and obtain a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition
“I enjoy getting to know other people and learning different points of views. I also
wanted to find a way to help others while integrating myself into the community.”
Kristina Quandt
Major: Sociology and Theatre
Academic Goal: To transfer to a UC to earn my Bachelor's Degree.
“I wanted to become a Student Advocate with MiraCosta College because I truly love
volunteering with my local community. I am super passionate about helping others and
making a difference in this world! I support social justice, equity, and inclusion
for all. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work as a Student Advocate! I
am excited to join the team.”
Amani Salgado
Major: Unknown
Academic Goals: To be in school and graduate with a degree.
"I became an Advocate because I like to help during the farmers market. And Bea introduced
me to the opportunity to go and read to 3rd graders. I am happy to do it."
Natalie Salgado
Major: Sociology
Academic Goal: My goal is to transfer to a 4-year university to earn my Bachelor’s
degree.
“I wanted to become a Student Advocate because I want to support the communities within
and outside of campus. I have a passion for helping others.”
Shawdi Sani
Major: Computational Linguistics/Linguistics and Computer Science
Academic Goals: Transfer to a 4-year university and obtain a law degree.
“I wanted to become a Student Advocate, so I could promote scholarship and service
to all people and communities. I have learned so much from service learning and volunteerism,
so I am excited to continue this with the program. I want to meet people where they
are at and encourage self-discovery and fulfilling one’s academic goals.”
Edith Vasquez
Major: Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing
Academic Goal: I want to transfer to a four year University.
“I wanted to become a Student Advocate because I like to help others. I also want
to help my community in any way I can.”
Makhi Williams-Kent
Major: Music Technology
Academic Goals: I plan to graduate with my AA in Music Technology and transfer to
the LA College of Music.
“The reason I wanted to become a Student Advocate is to give the people who look like
me a voice in my community. I believe me getting this position can show that it’s
not impossible for people of my community to contribute.”
