The Duval Scholarship is awarded to select students who are in the College of Letters & Science Honors Program and who are pursuing a double major. Shirin Assadian graduated with a B.A. in Global Studies and a B.A. in Political Science. Kahlo Smith graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology, Cultural Emphasis, and a B.A. in Religious Studies.

Shirin Assadian (left)

“One of my favorite aspects of the UCSB community is the prevalence of student advocacy on campus, highlighting the importance of a collaborative and diverse environment for students to thrive in. I am grateful for the amazing people I have met through organizations on campus that showcase the creativity and humanitarianism of students at UCSB. A great focus of my education has been learning about the systemic injustices that plague our world in the past and present, and how us students must be determined to create a more ethical world than we were handed. I hope to pursue law school and become an international human rights lawyer in the future.”

Kahlo Smith (right)

“In my two years at UCSB I’ve attended metal band garage shows, gone swimming before sunrise, conducted interviews with occultists, and built cursed statues out of crab shells (all hail Crabuloth)— but some of the best experiences I’ve had have just been learning and growing with my friends and classmates. I never thought I’d end up with a second major in Religious Studies, but the department has taught me so much about how people understand the world around them. It’s also given me the opportunity to do my own research on Queerness in occultism! I’m looking forward to taking a gap year to focus on my writing career before eventually going on to grad school.”