DREAMING BIG
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When 10-year-old Mayte Santacruz left Michoacán, Mexico for the United States, she was a hopeful child possessing family-imbued values and a desire to be a model citizen.
Fast forward to 2021 – Santacruz is a successful attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division in Washington, D.C. Her legal career took her from O.C. to D.C., and she garnered numerous accolades along the way, including the Public Law Center’s Attorney of the Year and the State Bar of California’s President’s Pro Bono Service Award. After settling in Santa Ana in the mid-90s, Santacruz graduated from Century High School in Santa Ana and enrolled in Santa Ana College (SAC). There, she had the good fortune to meet two educators who became both mentors and lifelong friends: Dr. Sara Lundquist, then-vice president of student services, SAC, and Dr. Juan Francisco Lara, CFEP founding director. |
Mayte Santacruz, UCI SAGE Scholars alumna and current attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
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“Dr. Lara and Dr. Lundquist were with me every step of the way in my academic and professional journey, believing in me, encouraging me, and guiding me,” Santacruz said. “Nurtured by their support, I was very active at SAC, where I took courses in the honors program and participated in SAC Associated Government.”
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Upon completion of her associate’s degree, Santacruz participated in the UCI Summer Scholar Transfer Institute, a 10-day residential program in which community college students – many of whom are low-income – live in UCI dorms and earn three units of transferable credit.
“SSTI was a series of intense, 18-hour days, but the experience prepared me, focused me, and gave me a community at UCI,” Santacruz said. Santacruz continued to rely heavily on CFEP throughout her time at UCI. She recounts close mentorship from Dr. Lara; Santana Ruiz, assistant director, CFEP; Karina Hamilton, founding director, SAGE Scholars Program, and Elaine Lipiz Gonzales, then-director of SAGE. |
Santacruz with CFEP Founding Director Juan Francisco Lara
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“From the moment I met Mayte, I recognized her as a powerhouse of intellectual capacity and a woman who was defined by her ferocity, courage, and selflessness,” Lundquist said. “She continues to set standards for achievement and generosity that would change the world if they were more widely adopted across the country.”
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Summer Scholar Transfer Institute was a series of intense, 18-hour days, but the experience prepared me, focused me, and gave me a community at UCI.
Alumna, Founder of Mayte Santacruz Pre-Law Scholarship Fund |
Santacruz would ultimately earn a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, summa cum laude, from UCI, and a law degree from UC Berkeley. At Berkeley, she served as the Senior Executive Editor of the California Law Review and produced ground-breaking research that led to congressional action to improve legal protections for immigrant women who were physically abused by their spouses and partners.
As a practicing attorney, Santacruz remains committed to public service. She represented dozens of pro bono immigrants who are victims of crime, and in 2011 established the Mayte Santacruz Pre-Law Scholarship Fund through the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF). According to statistics from the Hispanic National Bar Association, Hispanics – who represent 18 percent of the U.S. population – comprise roughly 4 percent of U.S. lawyers. For Latinas, these numbers are even smaller; Latinas account for less than 2 percent of American lawyers. |
When asked what advice she would give to today’s students, Santacruz said, “Learn what your college has to offer. Ask about scholarships, financial aid, internships, and volunteer opportunities. You will find that one program leads to another, and assistance is never far away.
“And above all, do not give up. It will not be easy, but you can do it. Dreams do come true.”
“And above all, do not give up. It will not be easy, but you can do it. Dreams do come true.”
The preceding story is part of the "CFEP: 25 Years of Impact" series, honoring the people, programs and partnerships that have helped impact millions of students, teachers and families over the past quarter century. View the entire series here.
