Alma 'Gaby' Avila Cervantes
For the entire three years she has been attending Cabrillo College, Alma 'Gaby' Avila Cervantes has served on the ASCC Student Senate. At the beginning of Fall Semester 2011, she was awarded the "Student Leadership and Service Award," as one of the Meritorious Service Award Winners recognized at All College Day.
For most of her life, Gaby has lived in Santa Cruz. She was born in Mexico City, where most of her family is from. Education is highly regarded in her family, and though neither of her parents had the opportunity to graduate from college, they have been very supportive in helping Gaby accomplish her educational goals. They have also always encouraged Gaby to have a strong work ethic in everything she does, and to always keep her culture and heritage important to her and close to her heart.
Gaby began her time at Cabrillo studying Business then changed her major to Political Science, with an interest in International Relations. Her goal is to transfer to a four-year university in California and she would eventually like to receive a graduate degree as well. With this education and her experience, she dreams of becoming an ambassador with an IGO (International Governmental Organization). As a minority, Gaby feels committed to becoming active in politics, in order to help represent those people who face limitations of time, resources, or privilege.
Gaby's initial position in the ASCC Student Senate was as Senator-At-Large. Her first major project as a student senator was to chair the Welcome Week Committee in September, 2009. She successfully organized a series of activities that engaged hundreds of students, including music, club tabling and a barbecue lunch for 350. She then became a Legislative Representative and also took on the role of Regional Senator representing Region IV on the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC).
Being a Region IV Senator allows her the opportunity to represent the 13 Colleges including Cabrillo in the Central Western part of California. Now in her second year of this position, she attends monthly meetings in Sacramento as well as regional meetings. She developed a PowerPoint presentation to educate fellow senators on the SSCCC, its purpose, and how it operates. As Cabrillo's one voting delegate, she traveled to the SSCCC General Assembly in Southern California, where she read, debated and voted upon many resolutions. She attended the California Community College League Legislative Conference in January 2011, where, together with other student senators and Cabrillo administrators, she met with California Assemblymembers and Senators. In this position, Gaby feels she can really help bring important local issues to the state and regional level.
Gaby has been very impressed with the resources available to her at Cabrillo College. She believes that all of her advisors, teachers, and family, who have supported and guided her through this time have played a key role in her achievements and in the development of her leadership skills.
Gaby's message to all current and prospective Cabrillo students:
"I would like every student, who is struggling financially or with their classes, to know that there is help available throughout the College – both on the main Aptos campus and at the Watsonville Campus."
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