Diana Alfaro’s Summer Search journey is a reminder of what’s possible when young people are offered access, community, and opportunities to soar. 

Diana is a proud Summer Search alumna from the Bay Area, currently working as a New Business Assistant at Morrison & Foerster. She graduated from UC Davis in December 2022 and is now preparing for her next big step: applying to law school.

Diana first joined Summer Search during her sophomore year of high school after being recommended by her Spanish teacher. At the time, she had never participated in outdoor programming or experienced the kind of community Summer Search offers. That changed when she joined the program and participated in her first summer experience trip in the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

“Summer Search fundamentally changed my personal and academic life. Despite growing up in Marin county, I had never experienced any type of outdoor activity before Summer Search. My summers typically involved just staying home. I hadn’t experienced any type of community in pursuing higher education before and this program opened the doorways to pursuing that.” 

Each year, hundreds of Summer Search high school students participate in summer experiences–ranging from adventures outdoors and academic and international service trips. For Diana, those two weeks were really meaningful. 

“I was in a group with other students [from] all around the Bay Area and in the span of just two weeks, we all became really good friends and had experienced different trials and tribulations together.” 

Summer Search is a long-term program, starting in a young person’s sophomore year in high school–a formative time in building up skills and setting goals for life after high school. And beyond the outdoor experiences for Diana, Summer Search opened doors she hadn’t imagined possible. After graduating from college, she leaned into the alumni network for guidance and support—with one particular alumni networking event having a major impact after graduating college. 

Left to right: Diana Alfaro (BA Alumna), Patricia Fernandez (BA Alumna), and Amelia Hadi-McKibben (BA Board Member) reunited at the recent Alumni Summit and Leadership Conference!

“It was through connecting with a Summer Search alum, Aaron M., which I was able to get connected with a job recruiter who worked with me in getting my first corporate opportunity post college graduation. Through gaining this temporary position, I was able to achieve a full-time position at my current role all on my own. I credit Summer Search alum Aaron M. in helping me throughout my job application process and providing such helpful counsel when I was feeling uncertain.” 

Diana at her first Giants game with Summer Search!

Diana also credits Summer Search Board member Amelia Hadi McKibben for helping her feel confident navigating professional spaces in the financial district of San Francisco, and fellow alum Christine Capacillo, Regional Director of Alumni Engagement and Development for her continued dedication to keeping alumni connected and engaged—like at the recent Alumni Summit and Leadership Conference! 

“Her work and dedication with the program is what inspires me to stay involved and give back as much as I can.” 

Today, Diana is focused on building her career, saving for law school, and continuing to grow personally and professionally. We are so excited to support Diana in this next chapter because as we say, once a Summer Searcher, always a Summer Searcher.