Zion River Light graduated from UCSB in 2023, Majoring in Film and Media Studies and Minoring in Professional Writing with a specialization in Civic Engagement.  Zion attended High School at Clayton Valley Charter High School in Concord California, becoming both a Writer and Performer during his time there.

Zion’s passion for art and community as well as activism were encompassed in his first ever published work, a poem titled “A Message.”  The Poem was performed for the Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam in 2017 and published in the Bay Area Book Festival’s first ever anthology of youth poetry from the same year titled, First Edition.

Before transferring from Santa Barbara City College to the University of California Santa Barbara, Zion made several films including PHENOMENON (Light, 2021) and Visit Santa Barbara (Light, 2020); the latter of which won second place in the 2023 Humanities and Fine Arts Creativity Contest for the video category at UCSB.  Zion’s desire for community service is not exclusive to his art, however. 

In the Spring Quarter of 2023, Zion served as the Publicity Director for UCIV.  UCIV is an organization in Isla Vista focused on delivering community safety efforts to the local college community without being affiliated with any type of law enforcement.  As the publicity director, Zion served as a role model to other members as well as ensuring that the organization was running smoothly behind the scenes.