Pause for Coz Profile - Sergio Diaz '26
Sergio Diaz ’26 chose Santa Clara University primarily to follow in his mother's footsteps. "I wanted to attend the same university as my mom, as she told me about her experience," he says. He was also impressed by the School of Engineering during his first visit and received the best financial aid package from SCU, making it an easy choice.
Growing up in San Jose, CA, Sergio has long been familiar with the SCU atmosphere. His mother graduated from SCU in 2005, and the family would visit the campus occasionally. These visits instilled in him a sense of connection and familiarity with the university.
Sergio’s favorite class at SCU so far has been COEN 12, which focuses on data structures. "This was my favorite class because while it was challenging, it was the kind of challenge that pushed me to learn more about the C language," he explains. He appreciated the opportunity to apply the concepts he learned to actual programming techniques, which he found crucial for his development.
Majoring in Computer Science & Engineering, Sergio discovered his passion for programming early on. "When I first started programming, I found it interesting to build things that were useful to me or helped me understand obscure topics," he says. Weighing his options, he realized that a career in software engineering would not only fulfill his desire to program but also be lucrative.
One of the most impactful extracurricular activities for Sergio has been rugby. "Rugby has been a game changer in my SCU experience," he shares. The sport has introduced him to a brotherhood, connecting him with great people, from current students to amazing alumni. The rugby program has provided structure, pushing him to improve his fitness and health.
Father Mariani has had a significant impact on Sergio’s time at SCU, particularly through his support of the rugby team. "Fr. Mariani has been a beam of light for SCU rugby," Sergio says. "No matter the conditions, we can count on Fr. Mariani to show up for us, offering his energy in supporting us."
Looking to the future, Sergio hopes to land a position at a tech company as a software engineer, either right before or soon after graduation. "My long-term goals include supporting my parents' retirement and helping out with my family’s finances," he shares. SCU’s strong alumni network gives him confidence in achieving these goals.
Receiving the Father Coz Scholarship has profoundly affected Sergio’s ability to attend Santa Clara. "The Fr. Coz scholarship has allowed me to transition from being a commuter to now living very close to campus," he explains. This change has positively impacted his academics, making him more available for office hours, study sessions with friends, and other meetings for his classes.
Sergio expresses profound gratitude to the donors of the Father Coz Scholarship. "There really are no words to express my gratitude for being a recipient of this scholarship. Thank you for your generosity; it truly means the world to me and has enhanced my SCU experience substantially.”