Student Profiles

Alexandra Urbina ’27, a Finance major with a Marketing minor, chose Santa Clara University while being recruited to play Division I Beach Volleyball. "Considering the perfect location, beautiful campus, amazing education, and endless opportunities in the Bay Area, Santa Clara was a no-brainer," she says. Cost was a real concern—her parents each work two to three jobs, her brother is also in college, and she works multiple jobs herself. "But the second I stepped foot on this gorgeous campus, I just had a gut feeling that I was supposed to be here," she recalls. "My parents looked at me and said we would make it." Originally from Broomfield, Colorado, Alexandra is the first in her immediate family to have this kind of experience.

Her love of both numbers and creativity shaped her academic path. "Ever since I was a little girl, I enjoyed math," she says, "but I always enjoyed the creative side of things too." She chose Finance for its versatile foundation and added a Marketing minor to keep that creative side alive. "Together they give me both the analytical and creative tools I need," she explains—a combination that recently landed her a Marketing Internship with LOVB SF. Her favorite class, Social Media Marketing, aligned perfectly with her interests. "Growing up in the age of technology and social media, I have always been invested in it," she says.

Competing as a Division I beach volleyball athlete has been the defining experience of Alexandra's time at SCU. "The competition brings out the best in me and pushes me to constantly grow," she says. Named team captain and leading the program in individual wins, she found even greater meaning in the relationships. "It's the people that have made this experience truly special," she reflects. "Grinding through early mornings, tough losses, and long travel weekends together bonds you in a way that's hard to find anywhere else."

Receiving the Fr. Coz Scholarship has relieved a significant burden. "It allows me fewer hours spent worrying about money and more hours I can dedicate to my coursework, my training, and the opportunities in front of me," she says. Alexandra already lives out the spirit of giving back, coaching youth beach volleyball across several clubs. "I want to be the kind of mentor and coach that shows young girls, especially those from families figuring out how to make it work financially, that their dreams are absolutely within reach," she says.

Looking ahead, Alexandra hopes to build a career at the intersection of sports and marketing. To the donors, she offers heartfelt thanks. "You may never fully know the weight that a scholarship like this lifts off of a student's shoulders," she says. "Because of your support, I get to be fully present—in the classroom, on the court, and in the opportunities that are shaping my future. Knowing that people who have never met me believed enough to invest in my future is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life."