Nine Claremont McKenna students (and one recent alumna) are practicing their smiles and waves over winter break, getting ready to take their places on Claremont McKenna’s Rose Parade float as it glides down Colorado Boulevard on January 2, 2023.
These exemplary CMCers will ride the float and represent Claremont McKenna, which celebrates its 75th Anniversary and “bright future” in line with the parade’s theme, “Turning the Corner.”
Meet our first float rider, Stacey Leyva ’26 from El Monte, Calif.
As a kid, Stacey Leyva ’26 loved to watch the Rose Parade on television. One year, she actually delayed a family trip to Disneyland, insisting everyone wait until the last float had passed the finish line.
This year, to her delight, all of Leyva's family and friends will be lined up in person on Colorado Boulevard to watch her wave from the CMC float.
A government major from El Monte, Calif., Leyva sees her selection for a seat on the float as a nod to “the underdogs, because I am not an athlete or the president of anything, but I am a student at CMC working for something great.”
Leyva is passionate about learning to use “the promised principles of our democracy to establish justice through the criminal justice system.” After graduating, she plans to attend law school, become a constitutional lawyer and someday serve on a judicial bench.
A proud QuestBridge Scholar, Mock “Trialer”, and Athenaeum server, Leyva said CMC reflects her personal values. “It’s a very inclusive, challenging, and exciting school that is preparing students to join the world as leaders. It’s an honor to be on the CMC float representing not just the school, but other students of color.”
Favorite Flower: Sunflower. “I love that they are big and bright.”
Favorite Campus Hangout: Collins Dining Hall patio.