Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Degree program: B.S., Computer Science
Expected graduation: 2026
Hometown: Oakland, CA
LinkedIn: Sarone Kelete
“I was drawn to Baskin Engineering because of its many opportunities for student involvement, and its emphasis on collaboration. The people here are incredibly supportive, and have influenced both my academic and personal growth.”
Baskin Engineering undergraduate Sarone Kelete is a third-year computer science major and deeply involved at UC Santa Cruz. She’s gained community and professional growth through the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at UCSC. Her passion for technology is reflected by her work with the Tech4Good Lab, where she contributes to impactful web projects focused on social good. Using skills learned in Baskin Engineering courses, Kelete secured an internship with LinkedIn in summer 2025.
What drew you to UCSC and Baskin Engineering?
I was drawn to Baskin Engineering because of its many opportunities for student involvement, and its emphasis on collaboration. The people here are incredibly supportive, and have influenced both my academic and personal growth. My experiences at UC Santa Cruz have helped me become a more well-rounded individual, and I am truly grateful for that.
What shaped your interests in computer science?
I’ve always been interested in technology. From a young age, I was good at fixing computers and quickly became the family technician. My love for video games led me to teach myself how to create mini-games in JavaScript, and fueled my passion for coding. Now, I’ve decided to pursue web development, where I can build on my creative side while problem-solving in application development. I enjoy creating things that directly interact with users.
What is your experience as a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at UCSC?
My experience with NSBE at UCSC has been amazing—the organization helped me find community and representation on campus and within my major. As a freshman, NSBE taught me how to present myself professionally and prepare for conferences and interviews. Regular study sessions have kept me on track with internships and coursework. NSBE also provides access to a network of industry professionals who offer guidance. We’ve hosted speakers from Netflix and Microsoft, and toured the headquarters of top companies like Google.
Tell us about your work with the Tech4Good Lab at UCSC. Why does technology for social good interest you?
A unique aspect of the Tech4Good Lab is the range of fields that students can explore, including web development, web design, artificial intelligence, research, and project management. What I value most is the opportunity to build a project from the ground up. I’ve observed the entire app development process—from the conception of an idea to research and design, then handing it off to the front and back-end development teams. This hands-on experience allows students to work on long-term projects in teams, offering valuable real-world experience early in our careers.
Tech for social good interests me because it promotes a more sustainable and thoughtful approach to technology. I appreciate that the applications I develop have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
What internships are you pursuing, and how did Baskin Engineering courses prepare you?
I will join LinkedIn’s product engineering team as a software engineering intern in summer 2025! My classes at UCSC helped prepare me for the technical interviews, particularly CSE101: Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms, and CSE13: Computer Systems and C Programming, which focused on algorithms and time/space complexity. CSE180: Database Systems, and CSE186: Full-Stack Web Development also provided valuable experience, allowing me to work with industry-relevant applications and build real projects.
What advice do you have for students hoping to pursue a similar path?
Get involved in clubs that interest you! On the UCSC Rocket Team’s Ground Control Systems team, I help develop a website for live data visualization and rocket launch logging. This has been a challenging but rewarding project that applies skills from class and my own independent research.
Connect with peers and reach out to professors for research opportunities early—take advantage of every opportunity, even if it’s intimidating. Start preparing for internships by building your own projects—showing initiative catches recruiters’ attention. Finally, keep your LinkedIn profile updated to show recruiters that you are driven.
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