21 car century insurance: Pomona College: Challenge Your Boundaries

Dear Diana,

Pomona College is a dynamic institution with curious students who push the boundaries of their own knowledge and beliefs on a daily basis. Through opportunities like funded research and internships, study abroad, internships, mentor and leadership positions and inspiring classes, we challenge our students to gain new experiences and expand their understanding of the world around them. At the same time, we are humbled by the rich and diverse perspectives our students have developed while navigating their own complex identities within an imperfect world. We continue to thrive because of this diversity of viewpoints and the value our students have derived from their education beyond the accomplishments they can document on a resume. We invite you to learn the stories of three such students.


	Daniela Hinojosa Sada, ’19 Major(s): Computer Science and Japanese Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Like a typical teenager, I like programming, playing video games and practicing my bassoon in my spare time. Unlike a typical teenager, I am a DACAmented student. I immigrated to St. Louis, Missouri from Guadalajara, Mexico when I was an infant, and I grew up in a verylow-income family. Being admitted to Pomona through QuestBridge has not only taken most of the financial burden of college off of my shoulders, but has also opened up a world of diversity to me.

At Pomona, I can use my identity and past experiences to voice my thoughts and beliefs. I have benefitted from working with Quest, a network for low-income students of diverse backgrounds, and I have recently become co-president of IDEAS, an advocacy group for immigrant and undocumented students. Through IDEAS I’m currently organizing the Collegiate Alliance for Immigration Reform conference taking place on-campus this spring. Serving as a first-year sponsor and a Japanese department liaison provided me with more leadership experience that will benefit me as I move beyond college. At Pomona, I am growing into a more aware person who is sensitive to those whose backgrounds and ideologies differ from mine, even as I continue to speak up for those, like me, who never knew our voices mattered.


	Ellington Bramwell, ’19 Major: Media Studies Hometown: Hyde Park, IL

I grew up on the Southside of Chicago and am one of the many Posse Scholars on campus. Soon after my acceptance, I received an email from Dean Lydia Middleton in the Office of Black Student Affairs (OBSA), welcoming incoming students of African descent to various events and inviting us to join a mentorship program.

This was my first encounter with a space specifically dedicated to the academic achievement of students of color like myself. My experiences with OBSA this fall have made it evident that Pomona values students’ abilities to create their own platforms to represent the interests of the student body. Not only have I been able to explore my identity amongst other students here, but I have also stepped up within that community. I am now the Student Manager of Diversity for OBSA and seek to facilitate more opportunities for students to connect to alumni networks and to express themselves through our newsletter. While navigating Pomona has been filled with challenges, I've also experienced triumphs in meeting adversity and am proud to be involved with and supported by the Pomona community as I pursue personal growth and incorporate my understanding of my evolving identity.


	Salvatore Daddario, ’18 Major: Psychology Hometown: Chesterland, OH

I am multifaceted. I’m an older brother. I’m half-Italian and half-Irish, and I’m from a small town in semi-rural Ohio. I’m gay, I have pretty bad eyesight and I’m an avid concert-goer. I am a first generation college student at Pomona College. Although I had not been comfortable with my sexuality through high school, when I came to Pomona I was less self-conscious about this part of my sexual identity than I had expected because I found a community that welcomed this part of me. In fact, I was initially much more self-conscious about my socioeconomic status. Although I’d checked a box identifying myself as first-gen when I’d applied, it felt like a formality to me. On campus, though, I became aware of the connections, tutors, and other resources my classmates’ parents had devoted to their preparation that mine could not. Fortunately, I was invited to join Pomona Science Scholars, a program designed to support first-gen, low income and minority students in the sciences. It provides resources like funds for research, free science textbooks and incredible academic and personal support. More than that, it provides a warm community of people who help me understand myself and my potential for excellence. Being a part of Pomona means not only finding a community, but embracing and exploring all of the dynamic parts of me.

Community is at the heart of a Pomona education. We are glad to have ours enriched by the voices of students like these and many, many others. We look forward to meeting students like you through our application process and discovering the unique perspectives you may bring to our campus.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our office at (909) 621-8134 or email us.

Best Wishes,
Pomona College Diversity Team
Ashley Pallie, Associate Dean of Admissions
Michelle Gonzalez, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Michael Walden, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Jazzmin Estebane, Admissions Officer
Tieisha Tift, Admissions Officer
Rhosheil Chavez-Uy, Administrative Assistant