The City Club Prize is given to some of the the highest academically achieving women majoring in a social science at UCSB. Tracy Gao (Economics), Adri Davies (Political Science), Jessica Stratman (Political Science), and Jianxiao Ye (Economics) receive a City Club Prize.
Tracy Gao (right) – City Club Prize, 4th Place
"I am Tracy Gao from China. It is my great pleasure to spend three years in UC Santa Barbara completing my Bachelor's degree in Economics. Besides the extraordinary beautiful scene in the university, I love all professors in UC Santa Barbara. They are always nice and helpful, and also encouraging. I can still remember that once I did not well-performed in the midterm and I was so discouraged that I wished to late-drop that class, it is one of my economics professors who encouraged me to continue the course and also went through the lecture slides again with me.
Meanwhile, I would say that UC Santa Barbara provides lots of resources. I enjoyed participating in Research Friday, which gives me the opportunity to conduct economics research with the professor, going into the actual class and counting the variables, reading the sources for some basic theories, coding the regression with my colleagues... This experience allows me to learn from practice and also feel more engaged.
I will spend time in Economics and Education at Columbia University for a Master's degree, and I might also fight for a dual-master's degree. I wish to fulfill myself and make more contributions in economics in the future!"
Adri Davies (upper left) – City Club Prize, 3rd Place
"The past four years at UCSB were an enriching, transformative, and deeply meaningful experience. From taking engaging coursework and meeting brilliant peers, to working as a research assistant in the ENVENT Lab on energy and climate politics research, my academic experiences exposed me to the important nuances of politics around the world and their implications for public policy. My favorite experience at UCSB was my participation in the UCDC program and the opportunity to work at the Brookings Institution as an intern for the Energy Security & Climate Initiative. There I learned the importance of disseminating research and quality information while further developing my professional skills. My aspiration after UCSB is to apply my research skills and understanding of energy politics to a career in law. In the next year, I will apply to law schools with the goal to become an advocate for legal applications that properly address the intersection of human rights and the climate crises, land use hurdles to renewable energy development, and accountability measures for corporate social responsibility and carbon emissions."
Jessica Stratman (lower left) – City Club Prize, 2nd Place
"As my three years at UCSB come to an end I find myself so grateful for the education I received at this school. I have gained knowledge that I will, no doubt, use for the rest of my life. I have also gained a determination to learn; not simply to achieve a grade but to understand and grow as an individual in this political world."
Jianxiao Ye – City Club Prize, 1st Place
Bio and photo not available.
