Student Profiles

Matthew Hill ’27, a Neuroscience major, chose Santa Clara University for the generous scholarship and financial support it offered, along with its proximity to home and Catholic tradition. Originally from Palos Verdes, California, Matthew has been captivated by the study of the mind since discovering AP Psychology in high school. "I love the idea of studying the soul and what it is that makes every decision, motion, experience, and sensation real and part of you," he explains. "The brain is an incredibly complicated system that is still being mapped, and I wanted to continue the study of this frontier." Transitioning to college, he sought a more concrete and physical approach to that fascination, which led him to neuroscience.

His favorite class so far, NEUR 10: Explorations in Neuroscience, brought that passion to life. "Not only was it made more enjoyable by peers and the brilliant Dr. Frihauf, the content was incredibly interesting," he recalls. The course introduced him to research techniques through both lecture and hands-on lab work, from behavioral experimentation and tissue processing to imaging and a final mock research publication.

Beyond academics, Matthew has found a home on SCU's Men's Ice Hockey club team. "The camaraderie and support I've received from the guys there has been immense," he says. "It gives me a reason to regularly escape campus for practice or team trips and forget the stresses of academics."

Receiving the Fr. Coz Scholarship has been a profound blessing for Matthew and his family. "My mother being a widow with two sons, this scholarship has been a massive blessing for us, and has lifted some of that financial strain from her shoulders," he shares. The support has also expanded his horizons: originally planning to stack classes and graduate early to save money, Matthew can now pursue a normal course load and plan for a second major in biology. He hopes to one day repay that generosity. "Given the massively generous aid I have received, it would be beyond amiss to not donate what I can in the future to help students like me," he says.

Looking ahead, Matthew plans to attend medical school with a focus on neurology, pursuing work in neuroscience or biological research along the way. To the donors who support the Fr. Coz Scholarship, he offers his sincere thanks. "Thank you, donors. Your kindness has been a blessing to me and my family," he says. "A blessing had I been without would have made for one of the most academically and financially stressful years of my life."