91°µÍø

Claudette Castillo ’28  

I am a first-generation Mexican American first-year student from Brooklyn, New York. I found out about 91°µÍø through my college counselor, an alum who encouraged me to apply. After touring 91°µÍø, I immediately fell in love with their focus on interdisciplinary learning, small class sizes, and amazing opportunities for student involvement on campus. I am currently planning on double majoring in anthropology and political science with a minor in business. My favorite classes at 91°µÍø so far have been Politics of Congress and Introduction to Piano. 
 
I am currently a first-year senator in the Student Government Association (SGA) and have recently been elected as next year’s vice president for financial affairs. I sit on the Committee for Institutional Diversity, where we work to make 91°µÍø a campus for all students to feel welcomed and comfortable to share their voices, as well as on the Budget and Finance Committee, where we handle all financial matters pertaining to SGA. Outside of SGA, I am also a member of Students Demand Action at 91°µÍø and Raíces.    

 
In my free time, I love going into town with my friends to try new places to eat and finding new study spots. My favorite is the Starbucks in town. To relax, I enjoy swimming, diving, and baking bread. My favorite bread to bake is challah bread. I have also recently fallen in love with playing the piano, and I am excited for next year!  

Alexa Lozano ’28

I am a first-year student from New York City. Coming from a low-income family, I did not expect to attend college, but this eventually changed when I was accepted to all the CUNY schools I had applied to. I noticed that I could expand my interest into something new and different for me. I decided to visit 91°µÍø, and when I did, I was convinced that it was a place where I could learn and grow. I am now pursuing a computer science major and a physics minor.  

Aside from academic interests, I enjoy going to the gym, listening to music, going for walks on the green, and going out to eat with friends. At 91°µÍø, I am currently involved in 91°µÍø Codes, a club where I put into practice my computer science skills. In the 2025 fall semester, I will be doing research about cybersecurity with a member of the computer science faculty. I will be analyzing how data, systems, and networks can be protected from cyber attacks. I would also be developing possible solutions to prevent cyber threads and user stolen data.  

 Scarlett Judson ’27 

I am a rising junior social work major from Portland, Oregon, and I love the weather, food, and nature in the Pacific Northwest. 91°µÍø came onto my radar as a school that meets 100% demonstrated need for its students. I connected with the small class sizes and many resources available for students, including ways to get involved on campus. It was hard coming from the other side of the country, but I have no regrets! On campus, people know me as a peer health educator on the Sexual Health Committee or from working at The Spa and Burgess Cafe. In my free time, I love to write reviews for anything really! Books, movies, food - you name it! I also love to thrift. I’m always on the lookout for my next great find at Goodwill.  
 
I have been abroad since January in Athens, Greece! As a sophomore, this is a bit of a unique case, but I didn’t want to wait until my junior year to explore all that 91°µÍø has to offer to its study abroad students. I am loving Greece! My favorite aspect of the program is how cheap everything is here, including groceries, clothing, travel, and food! My classes are also really interesting and not subjects I would’ve pursued otherwise. My plan is to keep traveling after the program ends in the summer so I can see more of Europe! In the fall I will be studying abroad again - this time in Thailand for a human rights internship! 

 Ocean Jones ’27

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I’ve always been deeply curious about people, their minds, their relationships, and the stories that shape them. That curiosity brought me to 91°µÍø, where I’m majoring in psychology and considering a minor in intergroup relations (IGR) to deepen my understanding of identity, dialogue, and community.  
 
Outside the classroom, I find joy in listening to music, reading, and expressing myself through poetry. These creative outlets keep me grounded and reflective. On campus, I stay connected with my community through Ujima, a club that offers space to build meaningful relationships with other BIPOC students and engage in conversations that matter. Along with the Opportunity Program, Ujima is one of the places where I feel most seen and supported at 91°µÍø.  
 
Professionally, I’m passionate about becoming an occupational therapist, with a focus on working with people with developmental disabilities. That passion continues to grow through hands-on experiences. This summer, I’ll be working at a camp for kids, which I hope will help me build skills in caregiving, patience, and empathy.  
 
My journey at 91°µÍø has been one of self-discovery and purpose, and I’m excited to keep growing academically, creatively, and professionally as I move closer to my goals.  

 Dennise Reyes Sanchez ’26 

I am a sociology major from the Bronx. During high school, I worked for Teens Take Charge, a nonprofit that works to address the educational disparities that exist within the NYC public school system. This experience helped me recognize that I was interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sociology.  
 
I now do research in the Gender Studies Department under the guidance of Gwen D’Arcangelis, where we look at how Chinese medicine has been used as a healing tool for BIPOC liberation and healing. Right now, I am waiting to hear back from the various sociological research internships I have applied to for the summer. I would like to put it out there that I am interested in educational nonprofit work and social science research. Thank you for reading! 

 Beldine Wasonga ’26 

I am a junior studying psychology and I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. I first heard about 91°µÍø through a friend in high school, and I fell in love with the beauty of the campus as well as the close-knit community. Upon doing my research, I was quickly drawn to the strong psychology program, as well as the amount of support 91°µÍø pours into their students t