College Nine Students Receive Matsui Fellowship

November 21, 2011

By Rachel Ogata 

College Nine 4th-year students Brent Houser and Andrew Avallone.

College Nine 4th-year students Andrew Avallone and Brent Houser have both been awarded the Robert T. Matsui - University of California Congressional Fellowship for UCDC Winter 2012. This fellowship honors the late Robert T. Matsui, an alumnus of UC Berkeley, the UC Hastings College of the Law, and representative for California's Fifth Congressional District for 26 years. Since its founding in 2007, only eight of the 86 recipients have been UCSC students, including Avallone and Houser. "The fellowship provides not only a $1,500 scholarship, but placement assistance, a letter of introduction from the Matusi Foundation to include in internship applications, as well as an awards ceremony," said Avallone. "This is huge for me."

Houser said that the fellowship will enable him to "learn firsthand how our government operates and receive training to be the most effective intern I can possibly be for our Congress." "My career goals are to be a public servant through a position in government preferably with the State of California working on education policy," said Houser. "This fellowship will connect me to individuals that have done this for a career so they can help guide me into an effective position and share their knowledge with me."

Avallone and Houser are not only both affiliated with College Nine, they have also been friends since their freshman year. The two met on the bus ride to Intercultural Community Weekend (ICW), College Nine's overnight retreat for students to explore the college's theme of International and Global Perspectives. Last year, when they learned that they were both planning on going to UCDC, Avallone and Houser agreed to be roommates and began helping each other with various aspects of the application processes.

"Throughout the whole application process, we texted each other for advice or updates," said Houser. With a maximum of six applicants awarded the fellowship per quarter, both students were aware of how competitive the fellowship was. Each admitted to having limited expectations for themselves and felt that it was unlikely that both of them would receive it. When they read the email informing them they had received the fellowship, both Avallone and Houser were hesitant to tell the other. Avallone was the first to text Houser the news. "He immediately called me and told me he was also named a fellow, so everything worked out better than either of us could have planned," said Avallone.

Both students have been involved in a variety of groups, classes, and leadership opportunities at College Nine in addition to participating in ICW their freshman year. They agree this involvement played a large role in shaping their college career and in their selection for the Matsui Fellowship. Houser felt that this involvement not only gave him professional experience and a solid foundation of knowledge about current political and social issues, it also taught him about his identity and how he approaches the world.

Avallone said that in many respects, his involvement at College Nine defined his college experience. "I cannot stress enough how important it is to take advantage of the opportunities that College Nine and the entire UCSC community offers," he said. "[My involvement] is what undoubtedly set me apart from the other applicants. Had I not done all of those things, I would not be where I am today."