²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP

 

 

Diane is an extremely talented and actively involved student. She is person who continually demonstrates a high degree of integrity and commitment to the college, her fellow students, her family, and all Student Parents and their families throughout the district. Simply put, Diane Castillo is an example of the best and the brightest at our college and I offer my highest recommendation that all her hard work and contributions to the college be recognized and shared.

Diane earned high marks in my POLS C 1000 Honors - American Politics section. She excelled in our writing activities, presentations, discussions, simulations, and debates. In addition to her strong academic skills, I was also impressed by how well she bonded and engaged with her classmates. It was clear that she served as a trusted friend to many in the course who would go to her for help and support. Diane's talent in mentoring others is also evident in that she also serves as a NC tutor for Spanish as well. Diane's commitment to academic excellence is also visible - in that she has also received A grades in her POLS 4 - World Politics, POLS 11 - Theory, and POLS 23 - Race and Ethnic Politics courses as well. She has also earned As in a host of other challenging courses - including Statistics, Psychology 11, Microeconomics, Intro to Business, History 6, and Honors Physical Geography. Similarly, in fall 2025, she earned a 3.77 GPA, taking four classes. In winter 2026, she took 3 courses and earned a 4.0 GPA. She is finishing her ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP career strongly!

While Diane initially struggled with balancing the responsibilities of having three (young) children, running a business, and attending college early on in her academic career - impacting her early GPA and causing her to take a few years off, since returning to ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP, Diane has been an exemplary student and epitome of our NC motto. She has gone above and beyond is so many regards, particularly in her work to bring to light the unique challenges of student parents, to make their needs more visible, and to strengthen our culture of support for NC student parents. Moreover, in the fall 2026, Diane is planning on transferring to UCR to study Public Policy. I have full faith and confidence that she will continue to accomplish amazing feats and be a source of inspiration and support to other as she moves on to the next steps in her academic and career journey. She will be greatly missed!

Diane is also one of the first NC students to achieve the recently approved Cal Law Pathway distinction. This is another wonderful accomplishment that demonstrates Diane's range of academic skills. Furthermore, Diane also recently learned that she was selected to participate in the Future Tech for Good Leaders Summer School in Paris and Beauvais (12 to 25 July 2026). This prestigious opportunity is organized by Ponts Business School, the Embassy of France in the U.S, and the Albertine Foundation. Her selection adds to Diane's considerable list of accomplishments and body of work while at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP College that merits recognition as a NC Student of Distinction.
— Professor Sandra Popiden