Meet some of the first members of the Class of 2021!

Neemah Cobell

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

High School: Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

Psychology and political studies. Pre-law advising

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

Watching movies, playing sports, watching football, hanging out with friends, acting, singing, painting, shopping, reading

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

Community service, classes, dorms, hanging out with awesome people, clubs….I’m excited for everything!

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

Freshmen year, I visited my grandma in Pasadena with family and we stumbled onto campus and thought it was the biggest campus we have ever seen with 5 different themes. We walked into office of admissions at pitzer and learned that it was 5 college campus’s. I looked at Pitzer and its core values and immediately knew this is where I wanted to go. I visited many colleges since then but I always came back to Pitzer nothing topped it. I knew this is where I belonged.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Intercultural understanding is so meaningful to me because I find it important to understand different environments and communities in which people live in. Without that understanding global change will not succeed. We need to be able to comprehend our surroundings and learn about all cultures and the communities we become involved with. I admire that Pitzer acknowledges this as a value that students need to have in order to create local and global change.

What is a fun fact about you?

I love noodles

Alessandra (Ale) De Rada Ocampo

Hometown: La Paz, Bolivia

High School: American Cooperative School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

Sports Management

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

Basketball and Soccer.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I am looking forward on meeting people from all the different schools around. Once i get to Pitzer I want to be able to contribute to the community somehow. Since I love sports, I want to participate in extracurricular activities. I want to help others and do community service projects. Lastly, I am looking forward on enjoying my college experience and learning everything I am curious about.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

I knew Pitzer was one of my top in my college list after visiting the campus during Thanksgiving break. After doing my interview I walked around the campus and felt in love with the location and how close the five Claremont Universities were so close from each other. I also loved how conscious about the environment the Pitzer community is, and knew that it was the type of university I would love to go to.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

The most meaningful core value to me is social responsibility. In order to change the world in which we live in, we all need to be conscious about our actions. In order to achieve big projects and to work towards sustainability, one needs to contribute to its community. It is up to us to be engaged and creative in order to look for solutions. i believe every human being is responsible for its own actions in this planet. Therefore if we compromise and help, we will be able to live in a better world. After all the world lies in our hands, we are the leaders that are looking for change.

What is a fun fact about you?

One time I was taking a picture with a llama and it spit me in the face.

Adèle Farag

Hometown: Jackson, Wyoming

High School: Journeys School of the Teton Science School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

I hope to study biology, premed, human rights, gender studies, art, music, theater…the list could go on…this is why I am going in undecided.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

I love to sing (a lot), ski, make art, play the violin, do gymnastics/cheer, be an activist, and volunteer.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I am most excited to meet people who have similar interests and also people who have completely different interests. I hope being a student at Pitzer will help me pursue my interests and discover new ones while making friends along the way.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

I never knew I could feel so connected to a college as I did with Pitzer. I had already seen many colleges on my college tours, but when I toured Pitzer something clicked. Pitzer’s core values aligned so perfectly with my own values. I felt that I especially fit into the social responsibility core value. When I went on campus I was blown away by the xeriscaping really showed me how Pitzer implemented their core value: environmental sustainability. I loved the people on campus and the Pitzer atmosphere. It was on Pitzer’s campus that I felt a true sense of community. Out of all the colleges I visited, I found that Pitzer was the one college that I believed I would be the most productive and happy.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

The social responsibility core value is the most meaningful to me. Growing up as an adoptee in Jackson, Wyoming helped me appreciate all that I had been given. This intrinsically motivated me to give back. I was given the best gift I could ever ask for, a safe home and a loving family. Ever since I have volunteered and vocalized human rights. I currently volunteer at Morning Star (a senior living center) and teach art, I am the co-president of the Journeys School GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance), and a 2-time speaker at the Matthew Shepard Symposium.

What is a fun fact about you?

I had a homemade raspberry filled chocolate cupcake for my 17th birthday on top of Jackson Peak (16 years after spending my 1st birthday on top of Jackson Peak).

Bisma Farzansyed
Hometown: Glenview, IL
High School: Maine East High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?
Currently, I am undecided! But I do have great interest in politics, biology, and art.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?
Running, crafting, reading, and bullet journaling

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?
I am looking forward to making new friends and starting a new chapter of my life in college.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?
I knew Pitzer was my top choice after I researched about 20 colleges and realized that I kept coming back to Pitzer’s website. Everything about Pitzer rose to the top of my research and just seemed so right.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?
Social responsibility is the core value that is the most meaningful to me because altruism is a trait that I admire. I like being pushed to look beyond my interests and help solve problems that are larger than myself.

What is a fun fact about you?

I am currently experimenting with bullet journaling and calligraphy.

Kayla Fennell

Hometown: Ashland, Oregon

High School: Green School/Ashland High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

Environmental Analysis! I want to use that background in law school and become an environmental lawyer.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

I love speech and debate and playing fiddle. Debate allows me to share intellectual ideas and fiddle allows me to share musical ones. I love sharing and being part of a community.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I am looking forward to meeting so many incredible, smart, dedicated people and to learn from what they have to offer.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

The moment I walked on campus. The vibe of the school was exactly what I was looking for and I am so happy to join the Pitzer family.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Intercultural Understanding is the most meaningful value to me, because the more I travel and talk to people the more I realize how amazing different people are, and how if we take the time to learn about others we end up learning truly incredible things.

What is a fun fact about you?

I have been to 14 different countries, and I try and take my fiddle with me whenever possible. You never know when you might need some tunes…

Gregory (Greg) Havton

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

High School: Palisades Charter High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

Neuroscience and theater

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

Swimming, theater, spinning yarn, traveling

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I look forwards to continuing my passions with a supportive group of people and to discover new opportunities that I could find only at Pitzer.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

I knew after spending a few days on campus with students and faculty during my swimming recruit trip.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Intercultural Understanding is the most important core value to me because coming from a background, it is important for everyone to live together in a happy and interactive way.

What is a fun fact about you?

I am the middle brother in a set of triplets!

Hunter Hennigh

Hometown: Alameda, California

High School: Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

Economics and Computer Science

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

Baseball, Hiking, Working Out, and playing Video Games

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

In general, I am looking forward to the unique balance between academics, athletics, and social life. More specifically, my freshman year, I am looking forward to the OA (Orientation Adventure) Trip.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

Pitzer became my number one choice when my dad began speaking so highly of the school and when I was contacted by Coach Pericolosi for the Pomona-Pitzer baseball team.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Student Engagement is the most meaningful to me because I feel that the more engaged a student is, the more they will get out of their college experience and I look forward to creating a unique career path.

What is a fun fact about you?

I taught myself how to juggle in one hour.

Ryan Lewis

Hometown: Modesto, California

High School: Fred C Beyer High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

I hope to study Biology and Pre-Med at Pitzer.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

My favorite extracurricular activities include varsity tennis, student government, and volunteering for community service organizations.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I am most looking forward to being a part of the prestigious tennis team of Pomona-Pitzer.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

I knew Pitzer was at the top of my college list when I came for my official visit for the tennis team. I fell in love with the campus, the town, and the limitless academics that Pitzer and the other Claremont schools have to offer.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

To me, student engagement is the most meaningful core value. Through college governance, the institution will thrive because of this very important core value.

What is a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I love the snow! (even though I’m from California)

Delshanee (Del) Martin

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

High School: Charles R Drew Charter School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

I will be studying business and chemistry in hopes of becoming a cosmetic chemist. I have my own cosmetic business, LÁBIO COUTURE, which is dedicated to informing consumers of the benefit of using all natural products.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

I enjoy writing and coaching competitive cheerleading.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I look forward to sharing who I am while simultaneously absorbing the views of others. I believe those who attend Pitzer desire to change the world but the intriguing part to me is we all want to change the world in a different way.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

After I attended the Pitzer Divesity Program! As I loaded the plane it felt like I was leaving home. In that moment I knew Pitzer was my number one choice.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Intercultural Understanding is the most important core value to me. A lack of understanding is the root of many issues in society. One who possess the gift of understanding of any kind is one who has mastered the skill of selflessness. They are able to remove their own personal boundaries allowing them to view people and circumstances from other’s perspective which is simply beautiful.

What is a fun fact about you?

I have visited Costa Rica, Brazil, and South Africa. I love traveling!

Tania Nasrollahi

Hometown: Calabasas, California

High School: MUSE School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

Education Reform and Human Rights.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

Student government, gardening, and creative writing.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

The Pitzer in Botswana program, the outdoor adventure orientation, and being surrounded by passionate and like-minded people.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

When I heard Pitzer representatives speak about the core values, and realized they aligned perfectly with my own.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Social responsibility: I truly believe everyone can live consciously.

What is a fun fact about you?

My life’s dream is to advocate against and eradicate the school to prison pipeline.

Tyra Popovich

Hometown: Morro Bay, California

High School: San Luis Obispo High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

Media Studies.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

Drama Club, Community Service, Improv Team, Acting, Singing, Roller Skating and Swimming.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

Being a member of the Pomona-Pitzer Swim and Dive Team and meeting new people from all backgrounds. I look forward to joining several organizations on campus.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Social Responsibility, because it is important to care about the needs of others. My community service involvement has helped to shape the person that I am today.

What is a fun fact about you?

I am a great impromptu motivational speaker and I taught myself how to play the guitar.

Samantha (Sam) Sanchez

Hometown: Westlake, Los Angeles

High School: Camino Nuevo High School No 2 – Temple Campus

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

I am eager to look at International Relations, but Political Science is another strong interest I would love to explore perhaps simultaneously.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

I love making wire jewelry! I made a Pitzer Tree pendant about a year ago when I fell in love with the school (as shown in my cap and gown picture). I enjoy volunteering for community service events, writing poetry, hiking on Griffith park trails, and co-facilitating play sessions for Play for Peace.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I am excited to be a part of the most environmentally-friendly campus of the 5C’s. I am looking forward to becoming politically active in the Pitzer community and finally learning German! Also, I wish to be a Pitzer tour guide at some point. I want to give great tours to make visitors and students love the school just like I did when I first went to visit.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

A brief school tour made me love the campus entirely. I loved the succulents, the dorms, the diversity I saw, the chickens, overall everything. I went on to research more about this beautiful school and realized that their core values were exactly what I wish my high school currently had in place. Pitzer is a green school with strong core values, a beautiful campus and a peaceful looking hammock in within the trees; Who wouldn’t fall in love with Pitzer?

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

All the values at Pitzer are genius core values probably ever made by a school, so it’s hard to choose one. However, I think Social Responsibility is the one that connects the rest of the core values together. We should be ready to work with others who may or may not look, think or celebrate like us. We must be open to new ways of learning and be ready to participate and engage during that learning. We need our world to stay alive if we want to make a change in it, and that’s why I believe Social Responsibility is the free will and the choice that makes the individual follow the rest of the Pitzer core values.

Carl Taibl

Hometown: Danville, California

High School: San Ramon Valley High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

At Pitzer, I hope to study Environmental Analysis.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

Some of my favorite extracurricular activities include swimming and playing the piano.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

At Pitzer, I am most looking forward to becoming a part of the family and being able to chase my dreams and submerge myself in a positive environment with an elite student body and instructional foundation.

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

I had suspected at the start that Pitzer would be at the top of my college list, but I knew for sure it was my home all along during my recruitment trip for swimming. I quickly fell in love with everything I saw and everyone I met and it became clear to me that I wanted to be a part of the greatness at Pitzer.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

The core values that are most meaningful to me are Environmental Sustainability and Social Responsibility because I enjoy having a positive impact on the world and I want to help others feel the same. Also, I believe that everyone has a duty to look after and promote each other to be the best that they can be.

What is a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I enjoy going to the beach and watching movies with friends and family.

Colleen Woo

Hometown: Pasadena, California

High School: Polytechnic School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

The environment, cognitive science, and art

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

I enjoy making visual art (painting, drawing, etc.), hiking, playing water polo, and volunteering.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I am really looking forward to the interdisciplinary learning where I can combine everything I am interested in!

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

I knew Pitzer was at the top of my list when I visited campus and learned all about its incredible sustainability and that students had been major contributors to it. I wanted to go to a college that truly lived its values!

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Pitzer’s core value that is most meaningful to me is environmental sustainability. It is so important for me to be at a school that shares my values, and the environment is something I have grown to care deeply about.

What is a fun fact about you?

I love food and have driven two hours to go to a restaurant on multiple occasions.

Kaylyn Wright

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

High School: Warren Township High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

I hope to study music, African culture, and psychology. Looking over the classes in the Pitzer catalog just excites me for my future at the college because there are so many interesting courses that suite my craving for knowledge. At the moment I am not exactly sure what I will major in, but I know that Pitzer will allow me to experiment and find what suites me.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

Outside of school work I love enjoying the outdoors. Riding my bike is always a nice escape. Most of my time goes to music when I get free time. Whether it’s writing, producing, practicing piano or simply listening, music keeps me occupied.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

At Pitzer I am excited for the amazing people I will interact with. Just from spending two days at the Preview Pitzer Program I made friends that stayed in contact with me and cheered me on through the application process. If those are the type of people I met in only two days, I can’t imagine the friendships I will build at Pitzer for the next 4 years of my life!

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

When I visited Pitzer over the summer after my junior year, I couldn’t believe what I witnessed. To me, Pitzer was too good to be true. I got back home and did more research on the website to find it was exactly what I was looking for and more. The Preview Pitzer Program just ensured my feelings about the college.

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

The most meaningful core value to me is Intercultural Understanding. In this world there are so many preconceived notions we have about each other. It is always good to break down the cultural barriers and learn from one another.

What is a fun fact about you?

In the 5th grade I received an award from my teacher for “Most Smiles In A Year” (and I feel like I can still be a runner up :)).

Ralph Zamora
Hometown: Ontario, California
High School: Montclair High School

What do you hope to study at Pitzer?

I plan to attend Pitzer College with an Environmental Analysis major.

What are some of your favorite extracurricular activities?

I love playing soccer competitively because it is such a beautiful team effort. I also enjoy group (school clubs/organizations) discussions and/or debates on controversial topics because I believe it is important to establish solutions that benefit all.

What are you most looking forward to at Pitzer?

I cannot wait for the Pitzer College atmosphere! I am so excited to be a part of the diversity and to further my personal and professional growth!

When did you know Pitzer was at the top of your college list?

I once had a campus tour at Pitzer College in 2015 through an organization called Bright Prospect. I learned about the core values and felt at home immediately!

Which core value is the most meaningful to you and why?

Personally and realistically, all five of Pitzer College’s core values are meaningful to me. But the one that stood out most was Environmental Sustainability. This is due to the fact that my passion and concern for the health of our environment is immense.

What is a fun fact about you?

My fastest mile time was 5 minutes and 11 seconds!