Pause for Coz Profile - Ava Klash ’25
For students and alumni, the SCU experience often comes down to community. And for Portland, Oregon native Ava Klash ’25, having Fr. Jack Treacy nearby was especially comforting as a first-year student. “Father Jack is a family friend, and part of why I chose to come to Santa Clara.,” she explains, “he brings me so much comfort, especially when I was new and didn’t know anybody. He’s a kind and genuine human being, not to mention that he’s incredibly funny.”
Choosing to double-major in Communication and Philosophy, Ava chose Communication because she knew that she wanted to work with people “and learn how to be an adaptable communicator in any setting.” She then added a Philosophy major because she “genuinely enjoyed my philosophy classes, and many are part of my Pathway, which is Paradigm Shifts and the Nature of Human Knowing,” she explains. “My first Communication class was Interpersonal Communication, taught by Professor Sunwolf, which has been my favorite so far,” she says, “because I met people that I’m still friends with to this day, and it confirmed that I had chosen the right major.”
In addition to her studies, Ava, who has been rowing for nearly a decade, is a member of SCU’s Women’s Rowing team. Athletics would also provide another outlet for finding community, as “the girls just took me in,” Ava explains, “and now they’re like my family; I would do anything for them just as I know they would do anything for me.”
As Ava explores career options, she already knows that one of her passions lies in advocating for the rights of people suffering from Type 1 Diabetes, “as I have felt like there is a lot of miseducation surrounding this illness since I was diagnosed,” she says.
As for receiving support from the Father Coz Scholarship, she recognizes and appreciates the support of those who made it possible. “Not only does the scholarship help fund my education, but receiving it also makes me feel like an important part of the community. I feel honored to be chosen to continue the Bronco legacy,” Ava notes. “My SCU education has helped me realize that there are so many ways I can achieve my goals and I am more than capable of delivering the impact that I want to have on the world.”