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Improving Fafsa Completion For High School Graduates, Haylee B. Padilla May 2026

Improving Fafsa Completion For High School Graduates, Haylee B. Padilla

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Too many students at Learning For Life Charter School graduate without a clear understanding of social mobility and are unprepared for the academic and practical demands of college. This project addressed the need for increased FAFSA completion and college and career readiness among 11th and 12th grade high school students graduating in the 2026 school year. The purpose of this project was to provide support to help students get federal student aid by walking them through filling out the FAFSA form and giving clear steps so they could apply without stress. Key activities included workshops, one-on-one support guiding students through …

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Adapting Preventive Health Education For Teens, Marcela G. Daniel May 2026

Adapting Preventive Health Education For Teens, Marcela G. Daniel

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Too many low-income individuals are developing type 2 diabetes. Limited health education and socioeconomic barriers increase the risk of type 2 diabetes among Monterey County residents. This capstone project was conducted at Community Health and Wellness, a department of Montage Health that provides prevention-focused programs, including Healthy Together. The project served middle and high school students (ages 12–18) from communities across Monterey County. The purpose of the capstone project was to gather teen input on how to improve a teen-focused prevention program and increase engagement among participants. The project was implemented through a survey distributed in local schools, with the …

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Cultivating Connection: A Culturally Responsive Mental Wellbeing Curriculum For Latine Youth In Santa Cruz County, Suzzy Landeros May 2026

Cultivating Connection: A Culturally Responsive Mental Wellbeing Curriculum For Latine Youth In Santa Cruz County, Suzzy Landeros

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Latine adolescents experience high rates of stress, depression, and stigma surrounding mental health, in part due to limited access to culturally responsive support and safe spaces for connection. The purpose of this internship project was to develop and implement a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, mental wellbeing curriculum to address barriers related to stigma, limited culturally responsive support, and disconnection, while supporting emotional awareness, connection, and use of grounding strategies among youth. The project was implemented through United Way Santa Cruz County in partnership with Watsonville High School and Soquel High School and served high school-aged youth. Development of the curriculum included …

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Emotions And Regulation In Preschool Children, Haley Alcala May 2026

Emotions And Regulation In Preschool Children, Haley Alcala

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many young children have not yet learned to identify and regulate their emotions. As a result, young children may experience more tantrums, discipline from teachers, and feel isolated from their peers. When children learn to identify and regulate their emotions, they will be able to increase their social skills, have an easier time making friends, and improve their academic performance. In order to address this issue, I created a three-day lesson for four-year-olds at Carmelo School in Carmel, California.

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Early Stem Engagement For Kindergartners, Ashley G. Rocha Rocha May 2026

Early Stem Engagement For Kindergartners, Ashley G. Rocha Rocha

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

There is a lack of age-appropriate exposure to STEM subjects among most children within the same age range; moreover, they don’t have any age-appropriate hands-on exposure, which could lead to learning these subjects. Without this kind of lookout in students, they can potentially lose their interest in learning these things as they enter new years of school every year. These kinds of learning experiences in the early years of education are important as they help students develop skills related to their curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking as it begins expanding, which are essential aspects required for their future developmental phase. …

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Improving Nutrition Education Curriculum, Angela Quintero Sepulveda May 2026

Improving Nutrition Education Curriculum, Angela Quintero Sepulveda

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project examines the need for improved nutrition education in elementary schools settings and presents the development and implementation of an interactive curriculum for second-grade students. Recognizing that many children lack foundational knowledge about healthy eating and the five major food groups, the project aimed to promote better nutritional understanding and decision-making at an early age. Grounded in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the curriculum emphasized hands-on, developmentally appropriate learning strategies to enhance engagement and comprehension. The intervention consisted of a structured lesson delivered to 20 second-grade students at Schilling Elementary School in Newark, California. Activities included interactive discussions, …

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Enhancing Kindergarten Readiness, Aileen Z. Chavarin-Beleche May 2026

Enhancing Kindergarten Readiness, Aileen Z. Chavarin-Beleche

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many parents of young children are unaware of successful ways to prepare their child for Kindergarten. Without preparation, children might struggle in their daily academics and fall behind their peers. Parents who learn more about Kindergarten readiness are more likely to create structured learning environments and help their child build skills to successfully transition to Kindergarten. In order to address this need, I have created a one-hour presentation for parents of children attending the Cabrillo College Children Center and Lab School in Aptos, California.

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Increasing Student-Athletes’ Awareness On Mindset, Kayla A. Young May 2026

Increasing Student-Athletes’ Awareness On Mindset, Kayla A. Young

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many college student-athletes lack awareness of  the benefits associated with maintaining a growth mindset. Individuals who are unaware may have lower resilience, poor motivation, and poor habits. College students-athletes who develop and maintain a growth mindset are likely to engage in good decision making and sustain their drive towards success, academically and athletically. In order to address this issue, I have created a one-day workshop for female college track and field student-athletes at California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, California.

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The Impact Of Art Integration On The Cognitive Development And Creativity Of K-8 Students, Logan Pierson May 2026

The Impact Of Art Integration On The Cognitive Development And Creativity Of K-8 Students, Logan Pierson

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The integration of the arts into education has a beneficial effect on K-8 students’ cognitive development and creativity. However, there is a lack of recognition of art in schools because there is no standardized way to test if students are learning from the information being taught. The focus of my project is to find what art is being taught currently in classrooms for K-8 students and how teachers know they are impacting their students. If teachers are using an art-related curriculum in their core subjects, how are they integrating it, and why is it not as popular compared to other …

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Supporting Stress Management In First-Year College Students, Maria Cardenas Martinez May 2026

Supporting Stress Management In First-Year College Students, Maria Cardenas Martinez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many students entering college lack the coping and emotional regulation skills needed to manage college life effectively. By understanding stress, learning effective coping,  and using emotional regulation strategies, students can maintain positive mental health, adapt to new situations, and succeed academically and personally. However, without these skills, they may experience emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, be overwhelmed, and have concentration problems that can negatively affect their well-being and college success. Therefore, I created a one-day workshop for first-year seminar students at California State University, Monterey Bay, in Seaside, California.

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Digital Outreach For Environmental Equity: Bridging The Nature Gap In Castroville, California Through Social Media, Phoebe C. Deacon May 2026

Digital Outreach For Environmental Equity: Bridging The Nature Gap In Castroville, California Through Social Media, Phoebe C. Deacon

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Too many low-income residents of Castroville are not spending enough time in nature, causing negative impacts on both physical and mental health. Ventana Wildlife Society provides programs including after-school programs, Single Day Adventures, and summer camps for youth and families in Monterey County, particularly those from underserved communities. This project focused on the Castroville program. Castroville is a low-income, agricultural, isolated pocket of Monterey County, one of the communities where Ventana allocates its resources. This project implemented an outreach and educational intervention through use of social media by updating the Instagram page for Ventana’s North County Outdoor Program and posting …

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Enhancing Emotional Regulation With Breathing Exercises And Body Movement, Katheryn Sani May 2026

Enhancing Emotional Regulation With Breathing Exercises And Body Movement, Katheryn Sani

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Some young elementary school children have not yet developed skills in responding appropriately to their feelings. Without proper emotional awareness and regulation skills, children may struggle with conflict management, peer relationships, and classroom behavior. By learning to recognize their own emotions and triggers, emotional meltdowns can be redirected, and disruptions in the classroom environment can be reduced. In order to address this issue, I have created a two-day lesson for second-grade students at Olson Elementary in Marina, California.

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Increasing Ageism Awareness Among College Students, Mya Melendez May 2026

Increasing Ageism Awareness Among College Students, Mya Melendez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many college students are unaware of their participation in ageist behaviors against elders. When college students are unaware of their ageist behaviors, they create an environment that excludes elders based on stereotypes and prejudiced ideas and may engage in other exclusionary behaviors towards other groups. Making college students aware of discriminatory behaviors against elders may increase positive attitudes towards elders, protect elders from vulnerability, and decrease the stigma of aging. To address these issues, I will conduct a one-hour workshop addressing ageism to a class of Human Development and Family Science students at California State University, Monterey Bay.

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Intimate Partner Violence In The Queer Community, Kathleen A. Oslé May 2026

Intimate Partner Violence In The Queer Community, Kathleen A. Oslé

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Queer college students face unique barriers to receiving intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention services, of note the instability of emerging adult life. At question is whether or not targeted intervention services appropriately serve the queer community in this regard. A new digital media landscape for the romantic world creates potentially harmful life goals by glorifying unhealthy behaviors and ostracizing survivors, all for the sake of money. Previous research shows that early intervention and education provides a preventative factor in IPV. Data from an in-person intervention workshop is used to determine the feasibility of targeted intervention services, and provides means-tested results. …

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Increasing Knowledge Of Language Development In Parents Of Children 0-3 Years, Grace K. Urban May 2026

Increasing Knowledge Of Language Development In Parents Of Children 0-3 Years, Grace K. Urban

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Language disorders have the ability to impact a child’s development negatively across domains. These differences often go undetected, and children do not receive the early intervention support they need. When parents learn about the variety of speech and language differences, they can understand when to seek support and intervention services for their children. Therefore, it is important for parents to be informed of the signs of speech and language delays that may appear in young children. To address parental concerns about speech and language differences, I will be holding a one-day educational seminar for parents who attend Parent’s Place at …

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Addressing College Students Stress Through Coping Strategies, Daisy Valdez Martinez May 2026

Addressing College Students Stress Through Coping Strategies, Daisy Valdez Martinez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

College students often experience stress due to time management, responsibilities, and finances. This stress can negatively impact them by leading to mental health issues and affecting their academic performance. This capstone focuses on creating a plan in which students are able to handle stressful situations and have greater awareness of stress. The workshop taught students about common stress factors, the impact they have on students, how to manage negative thoughts, and coping strategies. Participants completed activities such as creating their own stress bubbles, a negative and helpful thought worksheet, and a Kahoot quiz on coping skills. Results showed that students …

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The Role Of Family Dynamics In Adolescents Mental Health, Victoria Tinajero May 2026

The Role Of Family Dynamics In Adolescents Mental Health, Victoria Tinajero

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on the role of family dynamics in adolescent mental health. Teens who lack strong family support often develop mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. When families struggle with communication and have little emotional connection, teens may feel alone, misunderstood, or unsupported, which can lead to poor overall performance and emotional difficulties. When parents of teens learn family communication skills and techniques for providing emotional support, they are better able to reduce conflict and help manage issues like emotional withdrawal. To address this issue, I created a one-day workshop to educate them about mental …

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Understanding Imposter Syndrome As First Gen: Navigating Higher Education, Jocelyn Solar-Villarreal May 2026

Understanding Imposter Syndrome As First Gen: Navigating Higher Education, Jocelyn Solar-Villarreal

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Some first generation college students may experience imposter syndrome. Clance & Imes (1978), Imposter syndrome is defined as feeling like a fraud despite the amount of success. Students with imposter syndrome may have feelings of a lack of belonging and a lack of support, which can decrease their ability to succeed. When first generation students learn about imposter syndrome and how to address it, they are able to learn healthy coping mechanisms that can help combat the syndrome and also learn to interpret their experience as part of the learning experience instead as a sign of inadequacy. First generation students …

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Raising Regulated Moms: Reducing Reactive Parenting Responses, Victoria J. Perez May 2026

Raising Regulated Moms: Reducing Reactive Parenting Responses, Victoria J. Perez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many parents and caregivers lack access to information and support that accurately relates effective parenting styles, without this knowledge caregivers and parents may unintentionally rely on reactive responses that end up escalating conflict with their child rather than resolving it. When parents respond to their child's big emotions without effective tools to first regulate themselves, they risk contributing to higher stress levels, emotional withdrawal, and behavioral dysregulation in their children. Research consistently demonstrates that when parents are given the tools to successfully incorporate self-regulation skills and evidence-based approaches to guide children through difficult emotions, both the child and the parent …

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Healing Words: A Resilience Memoir By The Watsonville Women, Teresa L. Munoz May 2026

Healing Words: A Resilience Memoir By The Watsonville Women, Teresa L. Munoz

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Women in Watsonville face preventable health risks exacerbated by limited access to consistent physical activity and holistic wellness practices. This capstone project was conducted in collaboration with a local non-profit organization, Growing Greatness, that provides wellness-focused programming in organized group activities. This program serves Watsonville families and primarily supports women from underserved communities who are at greater risk of chronic health conditions due to socioeconomic and environmental factors. This project developed a memoir that documents the participants' experiences in activities such as bike riding, camping trips, and retreats that include yoga, hiking, tai-chi, meditation and other restorative activities. The purpose …

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Empowering Families, Supporting Students: A Bilingual Family Engagement Initiative, Galilea Bolanos May 2026

Empowering Families, Supporting Students: A Bilingual Family Engagement Initiative, Galilea Bolanos

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Too many students are falling behind in school, causing higher dropout rates, and delayed graduations, and more youth becoming vulnerable to negative influences, including gang involvement. This capstone project was completed at Pro Youth, a nonprofit organization serving youth in King City, California, a primarily low-income and Hispanic/Latino community facing language barriers and limited access to educational resources. Research shows that low family engagement contributes to student disengagement. The purpose of this project was to strengthen family school connections through a Bilingual Family Engagement and Education Initiative. Monthly workshops were offered in English and Spanish to help parents support their …

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Expanding Nature Access For Underserved Communities, Natalie Garcia May 2026

Expanding Nature Access For Underserved Communities, Natalie Garcia

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Too few children in Soledad have regular access and connection to outdoor spaces, leading to increased stress and fewer opportunities for positive mental health outcomes. This capstone project was implemented at Ventana Wildlife Society through the Nature Coach Pilot Program, promoting mental health through individualized outdoor plans throughout Monterey County. The program primarily serves underserved communities with limited access to local parks and outdoor resources, while also being open to the general public. The purpose of this project was to support the implementation of the Nature Coach Pilot Program by increasing awareness of accessible green spaces and encouraging engagement in …

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Benefits Of Being Bilingual On The Academic Success Of The Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners, Shary Vaca May 2026

Benefits Of Being Bilingual On The Academic Success Of The Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners, Shary Vaca

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Reframing bilingualism as an academic asset rather than a limitation, this senior capstone research project examines how bilingualism supports the academic success of Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs) in early education within California’s diverse and growing Hispanic student population. Using a combination of literature reviews, teacher interviews, and surveys from former English language learners, the findings indicate that bilingualism is one of three key benefits for English language learners: enhancing communication skills, strengthening critical thinking, and increasing language competence. In addition, bilingual students demonstrate a unique ability to collaborate effectively, think flexibly across languages, and transfer linguistic knowledge to support …

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Benefits Of Contemporary Literature On Literacy And Cognitive Development In Elementary School Students, Autumn R. Hemenway May 2026

Benefits Of Contemporary Literature On Literacy And Cognitive Development In Elementary School Students, Autumn R. Hemenway

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The purpose of this capstone research project is to examine the benefits of contemporary literature on the literacy and cognitive development of elementary school students. Contemporary literature includes modern texts that reflect diverse experiences, identities, and real-life issues that students can relate to. This study reviews academic articles and interviews with elementary school teachers and school librarians to explore how these resources influence vocabulary development, reading comprehension, student engagement, and critical thinking. The findings indicated that contemporary literature supports literacy growth by increasing student motivation and connection to reading, while also promoting cognitive development through interpretation, perspective taking, and deeper …

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Effects Of Access And Equity In Resources Allocation On Marginalized Elementary School Students., Giovanni Alcaraz May 2026

Effects Of Access And Equity In Resources Allocation On Marginalized Elementary School Students., Giovanni Alcaraz

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The purpose of this capstone is to examine the effects of access and equity in resource allocations on marginalized students. Given the struggles students face when they lack the same resources as other students, this study discusses how this impacts students' learning and education, and how it would benefit them if they had greater access to resources. Through a literature review and a case study, the findings revealed that students with fewer resources are more likely to drop out of college or university, and they are mostly from poor communities because they lack sufficient resources to support themselves. However, the …

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Supporting Wellness At Pantries: Enhancing Nutritional Literacy And Healthy Food Choices, Veronica M. Martinez May 2026

Supporting Wellness At Pantries: Enhancing Nutritional Literacy And Healthy Food Choices, Veronica M. Martinez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

High living costs and limited access to funds contribute significantly to food insecurity among families in Santa Cruz County, where many residents spend over 60% of their income on rent. This project addressed the critical need for increased nutritional literacy and knowledge to give participants food choices to help prevent chronic health risks. The purpose of this internship project was to develop educational resources and knowledge to empower community members to make healthier food choices despite systemic financial barriers. The project was implemented in collaboration with local stakeholders (Pajaro Valley Unified School District), including the Second Harvest Food Bank Santa …

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Effects Of Culturally (Queer) Responsive Teaching On Lgbtq+ Students, Samantha L. Alonso May 2026

Effects Of Culturally (Queer) Responsive Teaching On Lgbtq+ Students, Samantha L. Alonso

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) has been thoroughly researched, and its effects have been well documented. However, when responding to Cultural diversity within the classroom, most researchers and educators focus on racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse cultures. Despite this, CRT has proven its effectiveness for all students, and can be adapted for any minority culture. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of CRT for Queer students. As well as, the barriers, limitations, and hesitations in regards to its implementation. Using surveys conducted on students and educators alike, insights are provided in regards to student experiences and educators perspectives. Additionally, a …

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Teachers’ Role In Supporting Students Growing Up Missing A Parent, Jesus A. Gomez May 2026

Teachers’ Role In Supporting Students Growing Up Missing A Parent, Jesus A. Gomez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project examines how teachers support students who are growing up missing a parent. Through literature reviews, teacher and parent interviews, and anonymous student survey data from CSUMB students, the results revealed that parental absence and family instability can affect students academically, emotionally, and behaviorally. However, teachers can play an important role in students' lives by providing emotional safety, strong relationships, communication, and everyday support. In addition, students from single-parent or untraditional households were much more likely to remember a teacher as a role model as a second-parent figure. This capstone highlights the protective role teachers play …

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Impact Of Dual Immersion Program On The Academic Achievement Of Elementary School Students, Juliana G. Carreto May 2026

Impact Of Dual Immersion Program On The Academic Achievement Of Elementary School Students, Juliana G. Carreto

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This study examines the impact of the dual immersion program on the academic achievement of elementary school students in reading, mathematics, and Spanish. Through literature reviews, classroom observations, and interviews with teachers and a principal, the results indicate that students in the dual immersion program do well and often outperform those in the traditional program. Besides student engagement and interest in learning, students in the dual immersion program gain problem-solving, memory, and critical thinking skills, as well as proficiency in both English and Spanish, despite their initial struggles in the 90/10 model. As a result, the dual immersion program positively …

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The Effects Of Teaching History Through A Culturally Sustaining Lens On K-5 Students, Jessica Bazor May 2026

The Effects Of Teaching History Through A Culturally Sustaining Lens On K-5 Students, Jessica Bazor

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The current canon in many aspects of the US education stemmed from that of the white male, but with the country becoming more diverse it is becoming more important that children are taught about history through the lens of other cultures as well. This senior capstone research project examines the effects of teaching history through a culturally sustaining lens on K-5 students. Through the use of literature review, anonymous student surveys, and interviews with an array of educators, the findings indicated that by bringing in more diverse viewpoints, children are encouraged to be more analytical and more engaged in learning …

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