The Class of 2027 comes to Pomona College from 39 states and 34 countries, intending to study humanities, social sciences and STEM subjects. The 410 new freshmen on campus this school year represent one of the most ethnically and racially diverse classes in university history.
Six classmates reflect on what brought them to Pomona, how the first two months have treated them, and what the future holds.
Gabby Aiona ’27
When deciding where to attend college, Gabby Aiona looked for a college similar to her high school in Waimea, Hawaii. Ideally, the school would have small class sizes, a close-knit campus community, and be in a location with impeccable weather.
Pomona College checked all the boxes, he said.
Through the Views of Pomona (POP), Aiona got a taste of campus life, which made her decision to continue her education at Claremont a no-brainer.
“I like the fact that you can develop ideas and ask questions that you wouldn’t be able to ask in a larger class, say at a larger college,” he says. “Small classes are where I can really dive into ideas rather than being in a lecture.”
An offensive lineman on the Sagehen Football On the team, Aiona met upperclassmen who showed him the ropes and classmates he will know until he graduates. In its own way, the gridiron became an auxiliary classroom on campus, a place where Aiona learned “a different form of discipline and how to lean on yourself and get better,” he says.
Aiona plans to study economyand balancing classwork and football responsibilities has been a crash course in time management.
Although she is not immune to occasional homesickness, Aiona enjoys the university atmosphere of the neighboring village of Claremont.
“Everyone knows Pomona,” he said, “and they’re all very friendly.” It’s a really nice community.
Daniel Coker ’27
Daniel Coker came to Pomona from Charlotte, North Carolina, because he wanted an intimate campus environment where he would be more than “just a number.” He also appreciated the opportunities for research, study away And scholarships.
Ultimately, it was the Spring POP program, which brought Coker to campus for a visit, that won him over. He found the people at Pomona “really friendly,” and the physical campus, with its abundant greenery and beautiful architecture, appealed to him.
Coker said “he’s adjusted well” to being in Pomona. He made friends throughout the Claremont Colleges and joined Model UNTHE Athletics the team and the board of directors of Black Student Union.
He hopes to obtain a specialization in international relationships and perhaps also statistics to serve as a foreign service officer in the future. Coker’s current courses include statistics in politics and international relations, international political and comparative economy, and environmental history of Latin America.
Coker says of his classes: “It’s Pomona, it’s hard, but the teachers really help you. The teachers are absolutely incredible.
Hudson Colletti ’27
When applying to college, Hudson Colletti wanted to attend a smaller school, close to a big city. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the climate of Southern California and the charm of Los Angeles drew him across the country.
Colletti is considering a double specialization in computing and economics, with hopes of pursuing entrepreneurship or consulting in the future.
The classes were “really difficult,” he said. “I come from a rigorous course load in high school, but this is definitely still an upgrade. »
When he’s not in class or studying, Colletti runs in the morning and goes to Pomona’s house. gym the afternoon. He also spends time playing music on pianos in the dorm lounges.
His dorm, which he says is “a really big room,” is a social place. “I have a little putting green since my roommate and I both play golf.”
On weekends, Colletti alternates between golfing and finding other off-campus excursions in the greater Los Angeles area.
Back on campus, Colletti enjoyed making friends at Claremont’s other colleges. “It was nice to meet people from other schools,” he said. “I really appreciate that.”
Sophia Lee ’27
Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Sophia Lee enjoys being able to come home easily and having her parents visit her on campus. Play on the women’s volleyball team, with his brother Ethan Lee ’26 playing on the men’s tennis team, offers Lee many excuses to receive a visit from his parents.
When she arrived on the Pomona campus as a younger sister, she “fell in love with it.” Attending Pomona “was absolutely the right decision,” Lee said.
The Pomona students were a highlight and made Lee feel welcome. She says students on campus are “super friendly and open to meeting new people” and “supportive and loving.”
The mentoring sessions, led by upper division students, have been particularly useful in her courses. “The mentors explain things and respond to my needs. If I have any questions, I can just ask one.
Lee is currently on the prehealth track, considering a specialization in psychology Or neuroscience. She enjoys STEM classes, but also appreciated the opportunity to take non-STEM classes, including a Media studies course this semester.
“It was super interesting and a class I had never taken before,” says Lee. “It’s nice to not be so heavy on STEM.”
Julissa Pinedo ’27
Julissa Pinedo, one of five children of immigrant parents from Mexico and El Salvador, is grateful to attend a college 15 miles from her family in West Covina, California.
Since her cousin graduated from Pomona in 2010, the school has been Pinedo’s mother’s “dream school” for her. When Pomona offered Pinedo an acceptance letter and a voucher financial aid package, her family decided together to bring her over.
Pinedo has her sights set on becoming a doctor or physician’s assistant. “I really want to help people, especially those from low-income communities,” she says. “It’s truly my passion.”
Her classes have been difficult, but “I’m getting there week after week,” she said.
Pinedo found invaluable support in the Pomona Science Scholars cohort, an academic cohort that helps foster a successful transition for first-generation and low-income students. The cohort, which meets every two weeks with an advisor and every week with each other, also meets to study for tests and do homework together.
“We rely on each other,” Pinedo says. “I found my community there.”
Mariela Tamez-Elizondo ’27
Mariela Tamez-Elizondo was one of 74 students in her high school graduating class. During four years at IDEA College Preparatory San Juan in South Texas, Tamez-Elizondo’s peers were more of a community than classmates, she said, and she wanted the college to feel the same way.
Having a heart for studying economics and artclass discussions on the topic of the day pushed Tamez-Elizondo out of her shell.
“I’ve never had anything like this at home, where we sit and talk about readings,” she says.
In her free time, Tamez-Elizondo recharges at the 5C Girls in Lifting & Fitness Club, an extracurricular activity that she says “helps me be at peace and take my mind off all the work I have to do.” Tamez-Elizondo also joined the 5C Women in Finance Club to learn a thing or two about a taboo subject in her country. “I want to know how to help my family,” she says.
By the end of the school year, Tamez-Elizondo hopes to dispel any doubts about whether he belongs at Pomona.
“One of the hardest things was overcoming imposter syndrome,” she says. “So I want to understand that I’m here for a reason and I deserve this education as much as anyone else. I have a passion for learning and I feel I can explore it here.
