Where Is She Now? From Grit Award Scholar to Digital Media Professional.

Five years ago, Alejandra Mercado stood at the beginning of her college journey as the very first recipient of the Grit Award scholarship—a recognition not only of her potential, but of her resilience, determination, and promise. Today, her story is one of growth, curiosity, and meaningful impact. We at Luv’s Brownies® caught up with her to learn where life has taken her since that pivotal moment—and how the foundation she built continues to shape her future.

Alejandra’s journey led her to University of California, Davis, where she recently celebrated a major milestone. “This past June, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics with minors in Communication and Political Science,” she shared. It’s an achievement that reflects years of dedication, exploration, and academic rigor—but for her, the degree represents much more than just completed coursework.

“The past five years… have been nothing short of transformative,” Alejandra explained. Being named the inaugural Grit Award recipient provided her with more than financial support. “This award not only assisted but inspired me to seize the opportunity to deepen my knowledge through education, positively transforming the way I approach everyday interaction.” That transformation became especially clear in her chosen field. Linguistics, the scientific study of language, opened her eyes to the power of communication as a universal connector. “It fueled my love for connection by allowing me the space to discover the universal gift of language,” she said.

Alejandra’s academic experience extended far beyond the classroom. During her time at UC Davis, she worked as a psycholinguistics research assistant, where she developed a range of technical and analytical skills. “I had the privilege of strengthening my skills in eye-tracking, coding, corpus analysis, and audio programs,” she said. She really immersed herself in the tools researchers use to understand how language is processed and understood. These skills would later prove valuable in her professional career.

One particularly meaningful project involved working alongside a graduate student on the Konkani Language Learning Project. This initiative aimed to make a heritage language more accessible to others, preserving both culture and identity. For Alejandra, the experience was deeply aligned with her passion for language and connection.

Outside of her academic work, she remained deeply committed to community engagement and storytelling. She served as an Advisor for TRIO’s Upward Bound Program, where she supported low-income, first-generation students navigating their own paths to higher education. Having been in their shoes, she brought empathy and encouragement to the role, helping others see possibilities for themselves.

At the same time, she explored her interest in media and communication as a reporter for Aggie Studios. There, she told stories that highlighted the vibrancy of the UC Davis community. Whether covering campus events or spotlighting student voices, she found joy in amplifying stories that might otherwise go unheard. This combination of mentorship and storytelling became a defining theme of her college experience.

Another key influence during her college years was her mentorship under Andrea Lacy, the creator of Luv's Brownies®. Through this mentorship, she gained hands-on experience in marketing while serving as the Recruiting Coordinator for the Grit Award scholarship. Andrea later hired her as an Email Marketing Specialist, through which she further developed her technical and analytical skill set. It was a full-circle moment, giving Alejandra the chance to build on the very foundation the Grit Award had helped establish.

As of late, she has taken another exciting step forward in her career. “Following the support and opportunities I’ve received, I secured my first full-time career at Rain Agency as an Assistant Specialist on the Digital Video team,” she shared. In this role, she works behind the scenes to ensure digital campaigns run smoothly and effectively. From trafficking and setting up creative video content to optimizing performance across platforms, her work sits at the intersection of technology, data, and storytelling.

Her responsibilities also include tracking the accuracy of advertising spend and placements across publishers, as well as analyzing campaign performance to identify opportunities for improvement. It’s a role that demands both precision and adaptability. As we can clearly see, these are qualities she has cultivated throughout her academic and professional journey.

Looking back, she credits much of her success to a mindset she developed early on. “A mentality I instilled within myself as a first-generation low-income student was to stay curious and to tell myself that the worst they can say is no,” she said. These guiding principles encouraged her to take risks, ask questions, and pursue opportunities she might otherwise have hesitated to explore. Equally important, she emphasizes the role of mentorship in her journey.

“Having those two beliefs in mind further solidified my gratitude for mentors like Andrea Lacy, whose consistent trust and generosity amplified my understanding not only of myself, but the world around me.”

So, where is Alejandra now? She’s a graduate, a professional, a storyteller, and a mentor in her own right. She’s someone who has taken every opportunity—academic, professional, and personal—and used it to build a path defined by grit, curiosity, and connection.

Grit Award scholarship applications are now open. Learn more and apply today.