For Daisy Sicarios, ancient civilizations are more than stories. They’re her job and her passion.

Sicarios, an anthropology and classical studies double-major and first-generation transfer student, first developed an interest in classics and classical archaeology when she arrived at UCR in 2016. After enrolling in a course on ancient Greek language, her love for classics grew the more classes she took.

“I love how connected my work makes me feel to people who lived thousands of years before me,” Sicarios said. “There are many ways one can be exposed to and come to learn about cultures, both ancient and modern. But there is something in learning about a culture through the physical objects created and left behind by its people that lends a sense of directness, which is thrilling.”

In April 2019, Sicarios won one of three prestigious Undergraduate Minority Scholarships in classics and classical archaeology from the Society for Classical Studies. The competitive national scholarship committee selected Sicarios and two other students from across the United States to be awarded the distinguished honor, which will help fund education, summer programs, year-long fellowships, and outreach projects previously unavailable to students during the academic year. 

“The Society for Classical Studies does incredible work, and honors people in the field every year who make important contributions to advancing the field of Classics and Classical Archaeology,” Sicarios said. “To have been considered worthy of the scholarship by such an organization is an honor. I am the first in my family to have received a scholarship of any kind, so to have been awarded one that will be especially useful in furthering my career after graduation was particularly meaningful.”

Post-graduation, Sicarios used the scholarship to fund her archaeological studies and research at a dig site in Gabii, an ancient Latin city roughly 11 miles from Rome. Sicarios is now involved with the Gabii Archaeological Field School run by the University of Michigan and its Kelsey Museum of Archaeology. The school has introduced her to techniques and methods of field archaeology, and has contributed new experiences and discoveries to her research.

“My decision to take part in the Gabii Field School was reached with the help of my professors,” Sicarios said. “They worked with me in finding the right fit for furthering my studies in the field. The Gabii Project’s history, location, and contributions to Classical Archaeology were consequential in my choosing the site.”

“Daisy is a fantastic student,” said Christopher Simons, a professor in comparative literature and language. “She has earned this, and she should be very proud of herself. She is the embodiment of UCR- both its mission and its students, and I think she represents a growing demographic on campus, one that our campus really wants to see succeed. It's nice to see Daisy recognized for her hard work on a national level.”

FEATURED PHOTO. Jimmy Lai/CHASS Marketing & Communications
First-generation student Daisy Sicarios, a double-major in archaeology and classical studies, received three Undergraduate Minority Scholarships in classics and classical archaeology.