Her ability to turn personal struggles into advocacy for others has made her a standout in the California State University (CSU) System.
This year, Zaragoza is among 23 students across the CSU system honored with the Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement—the CSU’s highest recognition of student accomplishment. The awardees will be recognized publicly during the CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach on September 9.
Zaragoza is the recipient of the CSU Trustee Emerita Claudia H. Hampton Scholar award, an endowed scholarship of $11,000 that is awarded to a student from a traditionally underserved population or educationally disadvantaged community.
For her, the Trustees’ Award is more than recognition. “This award is more than financial help,” she said. “It’s encouragement and empowerment. It shows that no matter your background, you can pursue your goals. For someone in my position, being a single mother with six kids, it shows that the impossible is possible with perseverance.”
Growing up in underserved communities and experiencing housing insecurity, Zaragoza witnessed firsthand the barriers families face when trying to access essential services. Those experiences now fuel her drive to be a voice for change.
“Change starts with addressing barriers, often in policy,” she said. “I want to engage in policy advocacy and open nonprofit organizations for low-income families to help them become self-sufficient.”
She’s already making an impact through her work with Project Student-Parents Are Reimagening CalWORKs (SPARC). SPARC is a CalWORKs initiative that empowers student parents to advocate, conduct research, and influence policy to better support families.
As a SPARC leader, she represented students at the state capitol in Sacramento. One of her proudest moments came when her story about how budget cuts affect low-income families was shared with Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Determined to build a better future for her family and community, she is now pursuing her bachelor’s in Social Work at Cal Poly Humboldt with plans to graduate in Spring 2026. She ultimately plans on pursuing her Masters of Social Work degree.
Zaragoza’s journey has already inspired her kids, who will be in Long Beach to celebrate her recognition. “They’re starting to ask about colleges themselves,” she said. “My step toward higher education is creating a generational change—they see that education is possible. My main goal is to provide for my kids and model that change so they continue striving for education and making a difference.”
Her path to social work grew directly out of lived experience. “Becoming a student worker in the CalWORKs program, under a mentor who is a social worker and coordinator, exposed me to the purpose of the social work field, which inspired me,” she said. “I realized social work was my calling. I want to give back and provide the support I wish I had when I faced struggles.”
When she transferred to Humboldt, Zaragoza found the flexibility and support she needed as a student parent. Attending remotely allows her to balance academics, work, and raising six children.
“At first, I was hesitant about online learning,” she said. “But it gives me time to work and manage life with my kids.”
She also found a sense of belonging. “I’ve advocated for Humboldt because students like myself need childcare and flexible options,” she explained. “At orientation, I wasn’t the only student parent there, which was a relief.”
“Humboldt has given me more than an education. It has given me the strength, purpose, and a voice to carry change beyond the university, turning my experiences into advocacy for families and communities like my own.”
Through persistence and passion, Zaragoza is not only building a brighter future for her own family but also working to create lasting change for others.