Category: Uncategorized

Hiya! My name is Nick Miller and I’m from Atascadero, California. I’m Chumash and I see myself as a football player and runner. I’ve been playing football for 4 years and been running track for 4 years as well. I go Atascadero High School and will be going into my Junior year. I’ve been going to this program for 3 years and am planning on following through all the way into being a mentor when I get into college. I hope to accomplish in becoming a marine biologist to protect the oceans and it’s creatures.

Hi everyone! My name is Kyla Summer P. I’m from Bellingham WA. This is my second year attending this awesome program. I’m enrolled in the Lummi Nation, and I am also Athabaskin which is from a tribe in Alaska. Something I really enjoy is traveling and passing time with animals. This year I am a rising Junior at Ferndale High. Something I’m good at is Art. I entered a Patriotic Art Competition and won first place for Districts. I see myself as an artist and nature lover. For Freshman and Sophomore year I was in a Native American Leadership class named Oksale. We did many excited activities and always gave back to our community. But this upcoming year I got accepted into our school leadership class and I’m very excited to start! What I hope to accomplish in the future is to attend college in California and become a zoologist.

Sincerely yo girl

ps. this is my picture i drew lol

When I first came I was nervous and through the day I started to feel more comfortable because of the theater exercise I participated in. It had me amazed because I could relate to the other youth in this program.

My name is David Fabian, I am from Pomona, Ca. I am of Pit River descent, which is located in Northern California. I am going into my senior year at Damien High School, located in La Verne. Other programs I have done was Western University Pipeline Program and University of La Verne Summer Program. Jobs I have done was volunteering at churches and working for homeowners. Awards I received at school were honor rolls for keeping a good GPA. I see myself as a music lover and sport fanatic. What I hope to accomplish in the future is to go to college and hopefully get a job in the music industry or a  Pro-Sport franchise.

Hey y’all! My name is Eisen and I will be one of your mentors this year! I am a rising sophomore at Pomona College as a mathematics major with a sociology minor. I hope to get a Masters’ degree in Mechanical Engineering and eventually work with Engineers without Borders, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping developing countries around the world. Currently, I am involved in IDEAS, an organization to help support undocumented students on campus, and Quest, a national scholarship program for low-income/first generation students.

I am pretty disorganized, funny (or so I like to think), and am incredibly in love with sleep. I am also extremely competitive, especially when playing basketball and ultimate frisbee. Though I can be sarcastic, I like hilarious puns and cute things.

Hey, everyone!

My name is Alysha White and I will be one of your mentors this year! I am from the Diné Nation of St. Michael’s/Ganado, Arizona, but grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Growing up in the Land of Enchantment, not only did I grow up engaging in my Native culture, but I was also deeply engaged in my New Mexican culture. For instance, I would attend Mariachi performances at the theatre, eat New Mexican style foods (HOT CHILI!!!), and listen to Hispanic music while enjoying dinner at Sadie’s (a popular, authentic New Mexican restaurant). I love the fact that I grew up in New Mexico because there is such a rich culture there that I identify with easily but I also love my Native culture. I enjoy participating in traditional ceremonies such as Peyote Meetings and coming of age ceremonies as well as learning the Navajo language. To me, it is important that I keep learning more about my ancestors and traditions so I can pass them down to my children. I am currently in the Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media Program (IFDM) at the University of New Mexico, which integrates Film Production and Business Marketing.

This will be my 4th time at the Native Youth to College Program, my 2nd as a mentor. I thoroughly enjoy coming back to Pitzer every year because this program allows me to engage in cultural traditions that I would not have known about if I had not attended this program. You all are going to have so much fun at this program, whether it is your 1st year or your 3rd year and I cannot wait to see everyone!!

My name is Belmont Pinger and I am so excited to be a mentor for this years program! I was born in so called Los Angeles, shared territory of the Cahuilla, Tongva, Chumash and other first nations. When I was six my family and I moved to New York City. After high school I went to a year of college in Edinburgh, Scotland. I then took a break from college and moved back in with my family. While at home I worked as a cook and a butcher. I then went back to school and attended Pitzer College where I graduated from this may. I just got back from two indigenous resistance camps in Wet’suwet’en and Gitwilgyoots territory in Northern British Columbia. At the camps I learned a lot about indigenous sovereignty and ate traditional foods such as salmon, moose, and bear. It was delicious! I love to cook, adventure and defend mother earth. Cant wait to meet yall!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

WOW!

I feel so lucky to be a mentor for the Native Youth to College program this summer. Already I’m so impressed by the team of mentors, and am really excited to work with them and all the incredible students!

I’m an Azeri daughter who grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After my senior year of high school, I packed up my things and came to Pitzer for college! I just graduated this spring in Environmental Policy, and am unsure about what I’m gonna do for my next step…..! I do know though, that I am really passionate about social and environmental justice, and building communities of resistance in accordance with those values. I also believe in the power of art, food and music in bringing these communities together.

I love swimming, especially in rivers and (calm) oceans. I think there is magic outside, and believe there is so much to discover in our relationship to the land and other life. I love to learn from and get to know different people! Love to laugh, and will find any excuse to dance…and make you dance with me 🙂