Oscar Murillo-Espinoza

Senior Math Major

2024 Barry Goldwater Scholar

McNair Scholar

Meet Oscar Murillo-Espinoza, from Watsonville, CA. Oscar has earned one of the most prestigious undergraduate honors in the country, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, awarded for excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This year, he was one of only 508 recipients, selected from 1,353 nominees representing 466 institutions nationwide.

In addition to the Goldwater Scholarship, Oscar recently earned the Pi Mu Epsilon Speaker Award at the 2024 Joint Mathematics Meeting and a Poster Award at the 2023 National Diversity in STEM Conference—further showcasing his academic excellence and dedication. Over the 2024 summer, Oscar was in Manhattan working on a project that used extremal combinatorics to study random graph theory.

Oscar is driven by both the encouragement of his loved ones and his passion for exploring deep mathematical theories. He values the close-knit community at CSUMB, where his favorite professor, Dr. Alison Lynch, has been a significant mentor and source of inspiration. When not engaged in academics, Oscar enjoys unwinding with friends in the Math Lounge, where he finds a balance between hard work and camaraderie.

As a senior preparing for graduate school, Oscar appreciates the challenges that come with being a math major. He thrives on the complexity and abstract thinking required in advanced courses beyond calculus and statistics, which fuels his curiosity and love for mathematics.

Stephanie Lara-Sotelo

Junior Stat Major

Pi Mu Epsilon Inductee

Meet Stephanie who has consistently excelled in her studies, earning a place on the Dean’s List for four consecutive semesters with an outstanding 4.0 GPA. Guided by Dr. Kim through the NREUP program, Stephanie showcased her research at MAA Mathfest in Tampa, where she earned the Outstanding Poster Award. This spring, she will be presenting again at the MAA Golden Section in Santa Cruz.

Stephanie chose CSUMB because of its welcoming community and affordability. She shares, "CSUMB has meant so much to me in many different ways. Academically, it has provided me with opportunities that I will forever be thankful for. I’ve been able to connect with a community. Within the Math and Stat department, everyone is very encouraging and passionate about what they do. I truly feel like I belong here, and I’m so glad I chose CSUMB.”

Stephanie’s connection to her hometown of Watsonville, CA has played a key role in her journey. “I love my hometown. Even though it’s small, I’ve grown to appreciate the community it offers. I get to stay close to my friends and family while pursuing my education, and I commute to school, which allows me to stay connected.” As a first-generation student, Stephanie credits her family as her greatest source of inspiration. “My parents sacrificed so much to ensure my future and have supported me every step of the way. My brother has also been a huge support, always pushing me to be my best. Their unconditional love motivates me to succeed—even when the R coding gets frustrating!”