UCSD - University of California - San Diego

06/09/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2026 03:08

How Student Involvement Changed Our Graduates

Published Date

June 09, 2026

Article Content

As UC San Diego prepares to send off the graduating Class of 2026, we asked a few graduates to share how being involved on campus - from the Costco Club to Triton Gaming and more - impacted their path as a Triton.

Jacob Hoang, Bachelor of Science in Business Economics | Minor in Finance

Inspired by thoughts of resilience, community and purpose, Jacob Hoang took a leap of faith in his academic path when he switched majors to business economics from biology in his second year. "Making the decision to switch was honestly pretty intimidating; it felt like I was starting over in a completely different field," says Hoang.

Hoang rose to the occasion, becoming a fiscal administrative assistant at UC San Diego CREATE, a research center committed to supporting education from kindergarten to higher education among San Diego students and teachers. He also served as the chief financial officer for the Associated Students at UC San Diego.

And along the way, he led the Costco Club - perhaps the role that has brought him the most fame - while keeping up with his demanding coursework.

Through fun and unconventional activities such as the annual rotisserie chicken-eating event, the Costco Club helps bring students together. As club president, Hoang has done his fair share of breaking the norm. "What made the club special was that it did not need to be overly formal to have an impact," he says. "It showed me that community can be built through simple, shared experiences."

Heidi Galan, Bachelor of Science in Real Estate & Development and Urban Studies & Planning

"What made the club special was that it did not need to be overly formal to have an impact," he says. "It showed me that community can be built through simple, shared experiences." - Jacob Hoang
(Photo courtesy of Heidi Galan)

Heidi Galan refused to let tragedy stand in the way of her dreams, using that to fuel her way to a double major in real estate and development and urban studies and planning.

Last spring, she received a phone call that sent her flying home, where she lost an immediate family member to cancer a week later. "My then-biggest concern quickly shifted from 'how many years until the limited partner earns back their investment?' to 'how many days do I have left to spend with someone I love?'" she says.

Galan returned to campus with a deeper resolve: "My family [member] never let their diagnosis stand in the way of my personal development or my dreams," she says, "and they would have wanted me to continue working toward everything I set out to achieve."

Galan captained both the campus ultimate frisbee team as well as UC San Diego's team at the Commercial Real Estate Development Association's 16th annual University Challenge.

Galan hopes to eventually lead her own development firm, bringing her creative visions to life while creating meaningful impacts within communities. "I would love the opportunity to give back and teach students about the world of development just as my professors and mentors have done for me," she says.

Chris Kreins, Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology & Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience

(Photo courtesy of Chris Kreins)

A first-generation college student, Chris Kreins leaves UC San Diego as a double major, student government leader and the president of Triton Gaming, having found a community and second family. "UC San Diego was so incredibly impactful over these last four years, and I am so fortunate to have these emotions as I take the leap into post-graduation," he says.

Kreins's community, found through both on-campus involvement and student employment, aided tremendously in his ability to navigate higher education.

But it was his role as president of Triton Gaming that has been most impactful, igniting a childhood dream of working in the gaming industry. "This organization transformed my life," says Krein. "It pushed me to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, to work towards my own path, all while providing me with a new home." His participation helped him land his first internship and he was chosen to assist in the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the second Triton Esports Center in Thurgood Marshall College.

Kreins's proudest moment came during his role as Associate Vice President of Student Organizations for Associated Students, when he secured funding for over 1,000 student organization events in a year alongside other student leaders.

Interested in a career in human resources or student affairs, Kreins aims to return once more as a Triton to earn his master's at the Rady School of Management, ready to continue doing what he loves to do.

Emilia Vidrenko, Bachelor of Science in Economics and Cognitive Science

(Photo courtesy of Emilia Vidrenko)

Emilia Vidrenko arrived in the United States with one suitcase and no knowledge of English, but she had a life filled with possibility. "Growing up between Russia and Ukraine before moving to America taught me how quickly life can change, and how much strength it takes to begin again," she says.

At UC San Diego, Vidrenko challenged herself in ways she never expected, balancing work, family responsibilities and immigration struggles. Pursuing a double major in economics and cognitive Science, Vidrenko refused to let fear set her ceiling, continuously pushing herself out of her comfort zone.

Vidrenko embodied success through resilience. On campus, she became president of UC San Diego's BridgeUSA chapter, an organization dedicated to creating space for productive discourse, viewpoint diversity and a solution-oriented political culture. Through this work, she found a passion for bringing people together and creating community.

Graduating from UC San Diego means more to Vidrenko than just earning a bachelor's degree. "I hope my story reminds others that even when life feels uncertain, it is still possible to rebuild yourself, pursue your dreams and become stronger than you ever imagined," she says. As the first in her family to earn a university degree, graduation represents adaptation, sacrifice, leadership and the belief that difficult beginnings do not define the future.

"Growth does not happen when life is easy; it happens when you continue despite uncertainty," she says. Vidrenjo aspires to continue her education through graduate school and further develop her research interests in technology, policy, and society to help others navigate complex systems more confidently.

Katie E. Johnson, Bachelor of Arts in Media Industries & Communications

(Photo courtesy of Katie E. Johnson)

Only 20 years old, Katie E. Johnson has already accomplished more than most.

She graduated from high school in 2024 after simultaneously earning three associate degrees in 2024, and is now graduating from UC San Diego after just two years. Johnson acknowledges that her journey, while faster than most, was incredibly meaningful. "I feel proud because I know how much hard work, sacrifice, and discipline it took to get here," Johnson says. "Even though I am excited for what comes next, UC San Diego will always feel like home to me."

That home was one that she built. As a Black woman from Bakersfield, Johnson often felt like a minority within a minority. "One of the biggest challenges for me at UC San Diego was honestly just trying to feel seen and understood at times," she shares. "I come from farmers, cowboys, hardworking families and a part of California that people often overlook or misunderstand."

Her strategy was to build community rather than retreat from it, becoming deeply involved on campus and finding people who understood her and supported her. This included serving as a Muir College senator, serving as the financial advisor for the Black Student Union and interning at the Black Resource Center.

In these roles, Johnson channeled her passion for supporting people outside of the classroom. She organized a professional clothing drive in collaboration with OASIS and the Black Business Association, where more than 300 professional and business clothing items were distributed to students across campus.

UC San Diego also gave her something she hadn't expected as someone from the Central Valley: surfing. Attending Black Surf Week during her first year, "was one of those moments where I remember thinking, 'Yeah, this is exactly why I came to San Diego.'" She is now an avid surfer.

Johnson will attend the University of Southern California's Price School of Public Policy to pursue her Master of Public Administration degree. "No matter where my career takes me," she says, "I want my work to focus on giving back, uplifting communities, and creating opportunities for people who may not always feel seen or represented."

Charanvenkata Kanchana, Bachelor of Science in Public Health

(Photo courtesy of Charanvenkata Kanchana)

"My proudest moment at UC San Diego was realizing that I had grown into the kind of person I once looked up to: someone who could balance school, work, leadership and service while still staying committed to a larger goal," reflects Charanvenkata Kanchana.

After arriving on campus as a transfer student, he now has a clear purpose: to serve others, grow and one day become a physician.

As a phlebotomist and research assistant in the Exercise and Physical Activity Resource Center (EPARC) lab, Kanchana discovered that public health research is more than just collecting data: it includes building trust, communicating with care and respecting the communities and individuals who make the research possible.

His campus involvement stretches across the National Marrow Donation Program, Public Health Club, Alpha Medical Foundation and the Education Studies Student Association has reinforced his commitment to health equity and community care. "I have seen how research can improve health outcomes, support prevention efforts and allow participants to contribute to something larger than themselves." Kanchana shares. "It has also helped me strengthen my ability to communicate with diverse populations, think critically and approach healthcare with empathy."

With a special interest in cardiovascular and thoracic health, health equity and improving care for underserved communities, Kanchana aims to attend medical school and become a cardiothoracic surgeon. "My goal is to become a compassionate, skilled and socially conscious physician," he says. "I want to use both clinical expertise and public health knowledge to make a lasting impact."

UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on June 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 09, 2026 at 09:08 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]