Sertan Usanmaz
My brothers and I are quadruplets and we come from a low-income
immigrant family background. We migrated over to the State of
California with our parents in search of a better life and a
western education. We are first generation college graduates and
our education would not have been in any way possible if it
hadn’t been for the Cal Grant A, B and C awards! The Cal Grant A
covered almost all of my tuition at the University of California,
Davis (UCD), and my brothers received the Cal Grant C at American
River College which then converted over into a Cal Grant B when
they transferred over to Sacramento State University. My brothers
and I are very fortunate to have been able obtain a 4-year degree
at very minimal out-of-pocket cost. I’m very thankful to the
California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for helping us finance
our degrees! I’m using mine to pursue a career in public service
to better serve our great State! I currently work on affordable
housing policy in the California State Treasurer’s Office (STO)
but I am also very passionate about higher education policy and
financial aid reform. I am looking forward to working with our
Governor-elect Gavin Newsom and CSAC to expand financial aid
funding in order to provide greater access and equity to all
students!
– Sertan Usanmaz