One of Karina’s advisors describes her this way, “She has that rare combination of tenacity, self-awareness, boldness and intelligence that will make for an altruistic and effective leader.”  Karina was ranked #2 in academics at East Palo Alto Academy while at the same time she was tutoring elementary students, starting a Salsa Dance Club, president of the Student Support Foundation, a student-run organization that funds grants for school projects, and speaking at National conferences about the club’s success.  A born leader who has been through a lot, Karina is not finished.  She is excited about attending college so that as she says, “I can come back to my community and become a successful contributor to making it a better place.  With a college education I will have the required weapons to be successful in the future.”  No better place then UC Santa Barbara to provide her with that artillery.