Pause for Coz Profile - Gabrielle Canola-Leach
"Apart from the excellent academic and career opportunities that SCU provides, I chose to come here because, when I was being recruited to be on the rowing team, I met the most amazing and well-rounded people," says Gabrielle Canola-Leach ’25, an Environmental Studies major from Seattle, Washington. Gabrielle describes her new athletic experience at SCU as life-changing, elaborating, “In my freshman year of college I rowed at another university with an unhealthy environment. The team here has reignited my love for the sport. Rowing makes me feel like a valued member of the SCU community.”
Gabrielle's choice of major is driven by her upbringing, where she spent summers on her father's fishing boat in Alaska. This experience cultivated her deep appreciation for the natural world. She goes on to explain further: "Throughout the years I've noticed that the effects of climate change are affecting my family's livelihood, which is why I chose to major in Environmental Studies to promote and protect the sustainable harvest of natural resources."
“Throughout my classes here at SCU, I have learned technical skills that help me work towards my dream,” Gabrielle says as she looks ahead towards the future. Gabrielle strives to secure a job in fisheries and work with Indigenous communities to protect the health of salmon populations for future generations.
Aside from Environmental Studies, Gabrielle recalls that her favorite class at SCU was her Intro to Watercolor class because it “helped me step out of my comfort zone and taught me new techniques that I couldn't teach myself."
Gabrielle acknowledges the significant impact of receiving the Fr. Coz scholarship, "I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Fr. Coz scholarship. Because of you, attending school at SCU is less stressful for my family. I appreciate every dollar and your investment in the SCU community. The Fr. Coz scholarship has helped relieve me and my family of the financial stress that most families face when it comes to paying for college. Thank you."