Branching Out

In June 2026, two brothers, Matt and Andrew Mokski, completed their four-year academic journeys at UC Davis. Andrew graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, while his older brother Matt graduated from the Redwood SEED Scholars Program, California’s first four-year, fully-inclusive university living and learning college program for students with intellectual disabilities. 

The Redwood SEED Scholars Program empowers scholars with intellectual disabilities, such as Matt, to live in dorms and apartments alongside other UC Davis students as they take classes, build career skills and develop independence. As colleges across California seek to develop similar inclusive education programs, the Redwood SEED Scholars Program serves as a successful model for incorporating students with intellectual disabilities into campus life. 

An important tenet of the Redwood SEED Scholars Program is the idea of presumed competence, which states that, when given opportunities, students with intellectual disabilities are capable of learning and growing. Through the program’s inclusive living and UC Davis course elements, scholars are given the space and support to take risks and grow.

For Matt, the experience transformed what he believed was possible.

“I think everyone should be a part of the Redwood SEED Scholars Program,” Matt said. “It helps with communication, leadership and you have mentors.”

Over four years, Matt built independence and confidence, and is ready to achieve exciting opportunities after college that once seemed out of reach.                           

Discovering Purpose and Passion

Before college, Matt worked as a bagger at Safeway and planned to live with his family for the rest of his life. The idea of college or living on his own seemed like an impossibility — until his time as a scholar. 

All Redwood SEED Scholars take UC Davis courses designed to help them explore career interests, independent living, personal development and self-advocacy. While taking Education and Human Development classes at UC Davis, Matt discovered his passion for teaching and working with kids. Now, his goal is to work as a teacher’s aide. This last year he worked toward this goal and taught children safety at the Davis Forest School.

Andrew has witnessed Matt’s evolution, sharing, “Matt is drafting his own life now.”

Alongside Matt, Andrew discovered his own path. He entered UC Davis as a biochemistry major, but soon discovered that mechanical engineering was a better fit for his interests in mathematics and problem-solving. After changing majors, he used his skills in computer-aided design to manufacture parts for an off-road buggy with Baja SAE. Andrew joined the Davis Applied Aerodynamics Lab, creating composite layups for the UC Davis wind tunnel. Through his own self-discovery, Andrew found a growing interest in mechanical engineering with the goal of working hands-on to directly improve people's everyday lives. His experiences helped him build technical skills, but more importantly gave him a clearer sense of purpose and identity, mirroring Matt’s own growth.

Building Independence Through Community

The living component of the Redwood SEED Scholars Program plays a major role in helping scholars build community. Matt lived in the dorms for two years and in off-campus apartments for the next two. By sharing dorms, apartments, meals and campus activities with other students, Matt developed friendships and social confidence alongside his independence. Over time, he created his own routines, friendships and support system separate from his family for the first time.

During their first year at UC Davis, Andrew served as a residential mentor, checking in on Matt’s dorm for hygiene, maintenance and assistance. This allowed the brothers to see each other every day. Andrew admits that he felt like he was intruding on Matt’s new personal life.

“I could tell Matt wanted his own group,” Andrew said.

At the same time, Andrew built community through his own experiences. He started out in the tennis club to keep up with a sport he loved before joining Baja SAE and the Davis Applied Aerodynamics Lab. Andrew found community through his work with teammates solving these complex design projects. As he balanced classes, clubs and an internship as a project engineer, he developed his own routines that allowed him to recognize the importance of giving Matt space to grow and do the same.

Eventually, Andrew stepped back as Matt built friendships and engaged on campus. Since Matt lived off-campus, the brothers saw each other about once a week. They often ran into each other at the gym or met to golf together, but both were busy with their own lives.

Stepping Into a Bright Future

Now that he has graduated, Matt is taking steps toward maintaining the independence he’s built over the past four years. He was recently hired by ChildCare Careers to begin work and he will stay in Davis in an apartment with several other Redwood SEED Scholar graduates. Andrew is pursuing mechanical engineering jobs in San Diego, meaning the brothers will be separated for the first time in twenty-two years. 

While they had very different college experiences, Matt and Andrew’s four years at UC Davis were shaped by each other’s presence. They witnessed each other’s growth and increasing independence as they navigated different but parallel journeys.

Matt reflected on his experiences and said, “I’m proud of myself because I can do everything on my own now.”

Andrew added, “Since he joined the program, I’ve never seen Matt smile so much.”