Some of the First Members of the Class of 2019!

Arman Ahmed

Ahmed-ArmanHometown: Bangalore, India
High School: The International School Bangalore

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
For the past two years, I have been teaching English at an Orphanage near my home in rural India. Spending time with those children has become one of my favorite activities and I am extremely passionate about helping them. I absolutely love spending time at the beach, and doing anything from reading a book, swimming, tanning or enjoying a picnic. I have been swimming since the age of three and it is my favorite activity. It is certainly the one constant in my life, however ironic that may be, considering the fluid nature of water.

When did you know that Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
I can’t pick a tangible time or place where I felt Pitzer was my top choice, it has just been this deep feeling I have had since I first heard about it in the fall of 2013. I guess this is probably because all the core values have played such important roles in my life. If I had to choose, I’d say when I met the Admissions Representative at a Claremont Reception in my city.

Which core values is the most meaningful to you and why?
The core value that resonates with me most strongly is Environmental Sustainability. Our economies, populations and resource requirements are increasing alarmingly. I personally believe that instead of cutting back on progress, we should find ways to continue growing without causing irreversible damage to Earth, our ONLY HOME.

Parker Beak

Beak-ParkerHometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota
High School: Hopkins High School

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
The activity that takes up the majority of my time is basketball; however, it is far from the most valuable. I volunteer at a local summer camp for kids in need of a safe place to be while their parents are at work and this is quite an enjoyable and rewarding experience to me.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
I’m greatly looking forward to learning more about myself through interaction with others. Our student body is incredibly diverse in a variety of ways, and the opportunity for us to better ourselves in and out of the classroom through the environment that Pitzer fosters is something that excites me.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Student engagement is the core value that appeals to me most. School should not be a passive experience. As clichĂ© as it sounds, the college experience is what you make it. Pitzer’s commitment to student involvement in school-related decisions is not only beneficial to the school but beneficial to the students as well.

Katherine Carey

Carey-KatherineHometown: Hammond, OR
High School: Warrenton High School

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
My favorite co-curricular activity is being a co-manager at my school’s on-campus fish hatchery. This year I am my school’s student body president and it has been a lot of fun planning dances, activities, and meeting new students at my school. I also enjoy playing oboe in my school’s band.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
Last spring break, my father and I took a road trip to California to tour schools. After the tour at Pitzer, I knew that this was the school I wanted to go to.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Social responsibility is the most meaningful core value to me. I come from a small town and have grown up with the concept of always helping your neighbors. I think it’s important to bring this concept to a larger scale because I do believe as humans we have the responsibility to help one another.

Tanzila Chowdhury

Chowdhury-TanzilaHometown: Chittagong, Bangladesh
High School: Pheonix Union Bioscience High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer College?
Since childhood, science has been my most favorite subject which ultimately helped me to determine that I want to pursue a career in the field of science. I am particularly interested in studying molecular biology at Pitzer. The reason why I am interested in majoring in the field of molecular biology is because I have always shown passion for science, especially for the field of genetics. Concepts associated with molecular biology appealed to me the most because it is exciting to see the dynamics between different forms of life and their role in this interconnecting complex world. I believe Pitzer will provide me with various opportunities like conducting labs in Claremont College’s Keck science center where I can enhance my knowledge on molecular biology.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
I knew Pitzer would be in my one of the top college list when I visited the college campus through their Preview Pitzer program. The food was amazing. The environment was very “natury” (yes, that’s the “word” that initially came to mind when I saw the Pitzer campus). In general, I had a great time with student alumni and the admission faculty was very nice and helpful. Overall, I liked the environment and I was really inspired the Pitzer core values.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
I am mostly looking forward for having an awesome campus life at Pitzer! I am really excited for staying in dorms, meeting new friends, joining awesome clubs, meeting knowledgeable professors, and for pretty much everything.

Aidan Hall

Hall-AidanHometown: Tokyo, Japan
High School: American School in Japan

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
Volunteering to make and deliver food to the homeless of Tokyo; annual service trips to rural villages in Thailand to build clean water storage systems, renovate schools and teach English; playing football for the American School in Japan.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
I was impressed with Pitzer on my first visit in July for a football recruit day and again on a final recruit visit with the team in October of 2014. I had a great time meeting all the players and talking with the coaches. This experience, coupled with a fascinating conversation with Dr. Jamila Everett about Pitzer’s core and community values, crystallized my belief that Pitzer was where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. Many schools talk about values, but Pitzer lives them.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Intercultural understanding with a healthy dose of social responsibility. Having spent most of my formative years as an American living in Japan, I think cultural awareness and acceptance of differences is not only important, but critical in today’s world.

Celine Hylton-Dei

Hylton-Dei-CelineHometown: Silver Spring, MD
High School: Mercersburg Academy

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
I immediately put Pitzer at the top of my list after I attended the Preview Pitzer Program in October 2014. It proved to be everything I was looking for in a college!

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
I am looking forward to enhancing my academic career through Study Abroad programs.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
I value intercultural understanding, due to my upbringing. I have moved from developing countries to major cities all over the world and experienced countless cultures that have all proven to be connected in one way or another.

Kalanzi Kajubi

Kajubi-KalanziHometown: Kampala, Uganda
High School: Montgomery Blair High School

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
Music, whether it be playing, writing, or simply listening to it. I also love writing and performing poetry.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
Engaging with the community, whether it be by talking to people and learning their stories and perspectives or contributing to the art/music scene

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Intercultural understanding resonates most with me because I have lived and been raised with several distinct cultures that equally add to my person. Understanding these different cultures has been central to making sense of my upbringing and worldly experience. I also live in a culturally diverse area so it’s helpful to know how people of different custom relate with one another.

Sherlan Lord

Lord-SherlanHometown: Belize City, Belize
High School: KIPP Collegiate High School

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
I love being an advocate for the Eden Township Youth Court because I get to help troubled teens beat the odds and turn their lives around. Being a part of that process is pretty incredible. My involvement with the Student Conservation Association also means a great deal to me. The time I spent with this group rehabilitating state parks made me comfortable with the outdoors and with myself, and raised my awareness about environmental issues. At school, our Social Justice Club is amazing. I will always be grateful to my teacher Ms. Einhorn for making me feel like I can make a difference in my community; she inspired my desire for Food Justice. I also play the string bass. And although I’m no Esperanza Spalding, if anyone out there is interested in jamming with me, just let me know!

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
I knew Pitzer was THE college for me after Diversity Weekend. The people, the vibe, the art, and the culture were all things that I felt jived with who I am and who I want to become. I had studied Pitzer’s website and was impressed, but was also skeptical because it sounded too good to be true. Pitzer, however, is even better in person! Everyone was so friendly and willing to talk about things that were important to me. After that weekend, I knew Pitzer was it for me.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
The Social Responsibility core value is most meaningful to me. I truly believe that we–as individuals and as a community–are globally responsible for each other’s well-being and welfare.

Justin Mugabe

Mugabe-JustinHometown: Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
High School: Bridge2Rwanda

What do you hope to study at Pitzer College?
Economics and Environmental sciences.

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
The research of lost children during the time of wars in the North-Kivu Province (DRC); giving medical care to patients at CHUK hospital in Kigali; tutoring mathematics to students who are preparing for national exam in Rwanda at Ester’s Aid; the identification and reportage of enrolled children in the rebel group armies in DRC-North Kivu

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
A welcoming and supportive community with the best education in the world.

Adela Pfaff

Pfaff-AdelaHometown: San Diego, CA
High School: The Bishop’s School

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
Definitely when I walked into the admissions building and was greeted by excited individuals instead of sad employees. The fact that the admissions office genuinely wants everyone to experience their school affirmed my love for the community as a whole. Speaking with Angela Tilley before my tour was such a formative part of my Pitzer experience. She helped me understand the attitude of the school and its students: fighting for change, not only setting goals but seeing them through to completion.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
I’m eager to meet such a diverse group of people. I adore discussions and hearing new opinions, so I’m really looking forward to conversing with as many people as I can. The fact that Pitzer nurtures an environment where the spread of individual ideas is encouraged excites me. I’m so ready to be challenges intellectually in such a welcoming and safe space.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Student Engagement. I think the foundation for a lasting and meaningful experience is personal involvement, and the nature of success in a school like Pitzer can be measured by the amount of student contribution each year. I’m excited to not only learn about subjects I love, but truly be a part of them. The fact I can shape a class means so much to me. Pitzer doesn’t treat its students as lesser beings incapable of doing anything of worth until they have a degree; they treat their students as peers and encourage feedback and input to create a better community for all.

Mason Polk

Polk-MasonHometown: St. Louis, MO
High School: Phillips Exeter Academy

What do you hope to study at Pitzer College?
I am undecided on which major I am interested in. I am still in the process of finding my way, learning about myself, what I’m interested in, and how I see myself making a change in the world. However, I am interested in afro-history, journalism, biology, chemistry, and arts.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
When I read Pitzer’s mission statement, I felt like I shared the same morals and motives as Pitzer, and wanted to become what Pitzer was attempting to produce in every individual: an ethical and caring, socially (and environmentally) responsible person. When I visited, it simply closed the deal. I was in love with the campus, the people, the vibe, and I saw myself fitting in perfectly. I believe that Pitzer has the power to turn me into the man that I want to be.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
I am very curious, and excited to discover what life is like at Pitzer as a whole. I’m anxious to form new relationships with great people, have fun (and late) nights, learn about myself and grow as an individual, learn about coming of age, and learn (academically). A change will be nice.

Eve Preucil

Preucil-EveHometown: Sun Valley, ID
High School: Le Rosey in Switzerland

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
Throughout high school I have learned discipline and trust through participating in my school’s snowboard team and rock climbing club, two of my favorite activities. Another favorite activity started as a course requirement for community service but has become so much more. Volunteering at a local nursery and looking after a group of 2-5 year olds has taught me many things both about myself and the children, as well as opening my heart in ways I hadn’t experienced before. It is an extremely rewarding experience that has had a huge impact on my life, giving me refreshing perspectives, a sense of responsibility, and a new appreciation of the everyday joys in life.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
The moment I stepped on campus, I felt like I had found a place where I belonged. This feeling was later reinforced after learning about the core values, which aligned directly with principles by which I have learned to lead my life with, as well as discovering the Keck Science center which I believe will be an amazing resource for my scientific interests.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
The relaxed culture mixed with an atmosphere of global responsibility that provides a platform of opportunities to make change in the world. One of which is the range of Pitzer Study Abroad Programs, which I plan to take full advantage of.

Elizabeth Rodarte

Rodarte-ElizabethHometown: Ontario, California
High School: Chaffey High School

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
After visiting the campus for myself, I fell in love with all it had to offer. From the relaxed setting of the mounds and hammocks to the excitement of the different activities in the dorms and athletic fields, Pitzer gave off the perfect balance of college life. Pitzer made me feel as if I was already home! I knew Pitzer was at the top of my college list when I read on the website that Pitzer had earned the only perfect score as the greenest college in America. After reading that I knew I could attend Pitzer and pursue my education in environmental science while being surrounded by people who care so much about the environment.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
I am counting the days until I finally get to move in! Moving in, meeting new people, and being able to be a part of the Pitzer community is what I look forward to most.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Student Engagement would have to be the most important value to me because being involved and managing your own education and actively participating in one’s community is necessary for being successful.

Jeffrey Tran

Tran-JeffreyHometown: Salem, OR
High School: West Salem High School

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
My favorite co-curricular activity is Swimming (Go PPSD!) I also enjoy playing basketball for fun, as well as play the violin.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
Pitzer went to the top of my list after I read about Pitzer’s Core Values, and saw that they really matched my thinking. Approaching a rigorous liberal arts education with these core values was really appealing to me. I also love that we have the ability to take classes at the other 5C’s as well.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Social Responsibility appeals to me the most. My parents left Vietnam in search of a better life in America, and I’ve been blessed with knowledge from education in the United States. For the opportunities I’ve received from our country, I find myself with a social responsibility to give back to the nation that has provided me and my family a better life.

Cheri Tse

Tse-CheriHometown: North Point Hong Kong
High School: Chinese International School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer College?
I am interested in environmental studies. However, what I hope to study in the future may change as I will be exposed to a myriad of different disciplines.

What are some of your favorite co-curricular activities?
Organizing TEDxYouth conferences in my school for three consecutive years. The ideas delivered are always thought-provoking and inspiring. I love the concept that it is a platform for people to share ideas, which I think is essential in creating any change in today’s world. Although the organization process was stressful, the outcome was worth it!

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Intercultural understanding. In today’s increasingly interconnected world, we must be able to communicate with an understanding of other cultures in order to work together.