When Caroline Hatcher joined the SBCC Biology Club, it changed her life and she decided to switch her major from film production to biology. She’s now co-president of the club and looking forward to graduating in 2026 with an associate degree in Biological Sciences and transferring to a four-year university.
What are some of your favorite classes at SBCC?
My favorite classes are Concepts of Botany, Plant Biology, Animal Biology and Calculus with Analytic Geometry II. The professors of these courses – Dr. Matthew Kay, Dr. Jennifer Maupin, Blake Barron, and Chris Panza, respectively – have taught me so much. They have inspired me in ways I hadn’t thought possible, teaching me not only the expansive course material, but how to approach, engage, and truly connect with my education.
I can recall what I’ve learned from each of them, and continue to apply it to all aspects of life. The SBCC Biology Club, which I am currently a co-president of, is what initially led me to pursue biology as a career. The community and experiences I have found in this club have been like nothing else, and it has literally changed my life. I went from being an unengaged, anxious student to one who thrives on this campus and misses it while I’m away.
How did receiving a scholarship (the William C. Jorgensen Scholarship for Marine Biology and Biology Majors) help you in your academic journey?
As a student who works outside of school to make ends meet, this scholarship will help relieve the stress of paying out-of-state tuition at SBCC. I’m honored to have received this recognition from the SBCC Foundation and I am excited to be continuing my education here with the help of this scholarship.
What do you plan on doing after you graduate from SBCC?
After graduating, I plan on transferring to a four-year university to receive my bachelor’s degree in biology. I want to pursue a career in research and I would also like to receive my master’s degree and/or PhD. I’d love to pursue research focused on microbiology and paleobotany.
Please describe your background and interests, and the ways that SBCC helped you discover your academic and career path.
I moved from Maryland to Santa Barbara in 2020 to attend SBCC after graduating high school. I grew up in a woodland area and was lucky enough to receive an early education that prompted me to engage with nature. Since a very young age I’ve had an interest in the natural sciences and I’m extremely thankful to have found a career path through SBCC that can bring that excitement for science to life.
SBCC professors, students, and the entire campus community has helped me grow, as a student and a person. I feel incredibly proud to have such a strong foundation from these experiences. Outside of school, I enjoy drawing, camping, playing board games, and spending time outdoors with my friends. I currently work about 10 hours a week as a tutor with SBCC (shared between the Math Tutorial Lab and BIO 101 PAL Tutoring) and around 20 hours a week at Trader Joe’s to help support myself financially.
Anything else you’d like to add about SBCC, and your plans or goals for the future?
I would love to return to SBCC one day as a professor for Biological Sciences to pay forward the education and compassion I have received here!
