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Toby Cole, a dedicated Human Development major at ����ԭ��, has left a powerful imprint on the ����ԭ�� community through their commitment to social impact, creative expression, and student support. A proud graduate of Northwood High School in Irvine, Toby chose to major in Family and Human Services with a focus on Disability Studies, driven by a deep desire to support and uplift others—particularly children navigating medical and emotional challenges.

This fall, Toby will transfer to the University of Oregon to continue their studies in Family and Human Services, with plans to pursue a master’s degree and become a child life specialist at a children’s hospital. Their long-term vision is rooted in empathy and a belief in the transformative power of care and advocacy.

Toby’s time at ����ԭ�� has been defined by academic achievement, leadership, and creative engagement. They served as one of only five students selected to be PUENTE Student Ambassadors for 2024–25, worked as a tutor in the Writing Center, and actively participated in PRIDE Scholars, the Latinx Student Association, and ����ԭ��’s vibrant creative writing community. 

As a poet, Toby was chosen for a prestigious paid workshop with poet Sandra de Anda, sponsored by CHISPA OC—a community organization dedicated to Latinx voices and visibility. Toby also earned scholarships from both the ����ԭ�� Foundation and the University of Oregon.

Their advice for future students is as heartfelt as it is empowering: “Don’t lose yourself in order to make yourself seem more palatable to other people. Allow yourself to feel. Allow yourself breaks. If something isn’t sustainable for you in the long term, think about what is. What change can you make to make things more manageable? My biggest advice is to rethink how you see education. How wonderful it is for you to even be here! You wanting to learn is your biggest strength. Don’t forget that curiosity and drive for learning. Sometimes you will feel discouraged or feel like the person you are is not compatible with higher education. I need every future student to know that they do belong! There are so many people just like you in higher education classrooms across the country and across the world. Maybe you haven’t seen people like you, or who share interests with you, but trust me, they are there. Stand out! Be rambunctious! Be visible and loud in what you’re passionate about. Because someone, somewhere, is looking for you. You’re exactly where you need to be.” 

For Ariana Moolchandani, the path to political science wasn’t just about studying systems—it was about understanding how to create change within them. As a first-generation college student and a natural leader, Ariana arrived at ����ԭ�� (����ԭ��) with big questions about the world—and quickly found the community and resources she needed to begin answering them.

“����ԭ�� was the perfect place to explore my interests and grow my confidence,” says Ariana, who is majoring in Political Science and transferring to UCLA in Fall 2025. “I learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being willing to ask the right questions, connect with others, and take that first step.”

Ariana made her mark at ����ԭ�� through a deep commitment to campus leadership and academic excellence. She served as a Student Ambassador, consistently earned Dean’s List honors, and joined prestigious organizations like Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. She was also part of the ����ԭ�� Honors Program, where she deepened her critical thinking and research skills.

But it was Ariana’s extracurricular involvement that truly helped her discover her purpose. She co-founded and co-led the Global Perspectives Club, creating a space for students to discuss pressing international issues. As Marketing Director for the Business Leaders Society, she helped connect her peers to networking events and professional opportunities. “Getting involved was transformative,” she explains. “It pushed me outside my comfort zone and allowed me to grow in ways I never imagined.”

Ariana’s next step is UCLA, where she plans to dive deeper into global systems, legal studies, and policymaking. Her long-term goal is to pursue a career in international relations or corporate law—fields where she can work across borders, solve complex problems, and advocate for meaningful change in both the public and private sectors.

Her advice to future students is simple but powerful: “Don’t be afraid to take initiative and put yourself out there. Some of the best opportunities come from saying yes before you feel fully ready. Even one step outside your comfort zone can open doors you didn’t expect.” With her curiosity, drive, and commitment to global understanding, Ariana Moolchandani is already building a more connected and just world—and she’s only just getting started.

For Arsalan Zafarmand, studying biology at ����ԭ�� (����ԭ��) was never just about mastering molecules and systems—it was about honoring a life-saving legacy. Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Arsalan lost his mother in a tragic car accident before he was born. Miraculously, he survived thanks to the skill and compassion of the medical professionals who cared for him. Their dedication planted a powerful seed in Arsalan: the desire to help others through healing.

After graduating from the prestigious Allameh Tabatabei High School in Tehran with a diploma in Physics and Mathematics and a stellar GPA, Arsalan brought his academic drive to the United States in 2021. As a first-generation college student, he enrolled at ����ԭ�� in 2022 with a laser focus on becoming a dentist, and eventually, an orthodontist. His course load has been intense—spanning Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Math, and Physics—and his GPA remains a perfect 4.0. Arsalan has also been the top student in nearly every class he’s taken, a result he attributes to sacrifice, discipline, and relentless self-belief.

His accomplishments at ����ԭ�� are as impressive as they are inspiring. He’s earned multiple scholarships, including the Regini and Mohan Kulkarni Endowed Scholarship and the Assistance League of Irvine Endowed Scholarship, and he received the ����ԭ�� Supportive Services Certificate of Recognition twice. Arsalan also served his peers as a tutor, assisting in general Chemistry courses and making a meaningful impact on student learning alongside Professor Thomas Cullen.

Beyond the classroom, Arsalan actively participated in the Persian Group, where he stepped into leadership roles, helping organize projects, and honing his communication and conflict-resolution skills. These experiences, he says, prepared him not just for a future career in dentistry, but for a life of service and empathy.

Arsalan has received acceptance letters from UC Irvine and UC Davis—two of the top public universities in the country for biology majors. He’s already preparing for life’s next chapter: volunteering in dental offices, shadowing professionals, and studying for the Dental Admission Test (DAT). He hopes to transition smoothly into university life this fall by continuing his academic momentum all the way to dental school and eventually a specialty in orthodontics.

He adds, his goal is to give people beautiful smiles by aligning and straightening their teeth. Arsalan further shares, "But more than that, I want to ease people’s pain and improve their quality of life—just as those doctors did for me before I ever opened my eyes." 

From a young age, books were more than just stories—they were lifelines. For Dalton Saban, reading offered comfort during tough times and ignited a lifelong passion for the written word. That love of literature grew into a calling: to uplift and inspire others through storytelling.

An English major with a minor in Creative Writing, Dalton describes writing as a window to serve others with new perspectives. “For me, writing is a way to connect with people—to help them feel seen, understood, and inspired,” he says. 

His ultimate goal? To become a New York Times Best-Selling author and, one day, a Creative Writing professor, mentoring the next generation of storytellers.

A graduate of Irvine High School, Dalton chose to stay local after learning about ����ԭ��’s exceptional academic reputation. 

“It was a no-brainer,” he says. “����ԭ�� is highly respected by UCs and other universities across the country.” His choice paid off: after excelling at ����ԭ��, he was accepted into UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton, and Brigham Young University—where he will transfer this fall.

His time at ����ԭ�� has been marked by leadership, service, and academic excellence. Dalton has been named to the Dean’s List, works as a Student Ambassador for the Outreach department, and has played a key role in Preview Night, ����ԭ��’s signature event welcoming thousands of local high school students. He also had his work published in The Ear, ����ԭ��’s literary journal—an early milestone on his path to literary success.

One of the most defining experiences of Dalton’s life came before he even began college: a two-year volunteer mission in Honduras, where he learned resilience, compassion, and the power of connection—values that now inform his writing and approach to life.

His advice for future students is thoughtful and grounded in experience: “Remember that your time is precious. Balancing academics and personal life is essential. For me, success came from building a schedule, sticking to it, and giving myself time to both study and recharge. Trust the process. Stay organized, stay focused, and success will follow.”

With a heart for helping others and a gift for storytelling, Dalton Saban is ready to write the next chapter—one filled with purpose, inspiration, and bold ambition.

When Haley Alana Barrios Gomez was a child, she loved to build things. “I still love tinkering and taking things apart,” she says with a smile. That natural curiosity, paired with her experience living with congenital limb loss, eventually inspired her to design her own prosthetic arm—and to pursue a future in mechanical engineering with a focus on biomechatronics.

Haley, a mechanical engineering major at ����ԭ�� (����ԭ��), has always been drawn to innovation that makes a real-world impact. She grew up using a body-powered prosthesis but realized that it wasn’t the best fit for her body, especially with her scoliosis. At just 16, she began researching myoelectric prosthetics, which use electrical signals from the body to control movement. Her determination led her to collaborate with engineers at Hanger Clinic, immersing herself in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) design and engineering principles to create a custom prosthetic device she still uses today. “It was an intense but incredibly rewarding process,” she reflects.

That same drive led Haley to join ����ԭ��’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program, which supports first-generation, low-income students in calculus-based STEM fields. 

“As a first-generation college student, I couldn’t afford to attend a four-year university right away,” she explains. “����ԭ�� was the ideal option. They have a great STEM program with incredible engineering professors and strong partnerships with UCs and CSUs.”

Throughout her time at ����ԭ��, Haley has stood out not just for her academic achievements, but also for her leadership and advocacy. She currently serves as a tutor at the MESA Center, helping her peers succeed in rigorous STEM coursework. She also spoke at the grand opening of the ����ԭ�� MESA Center and was featured in both the Orange County Business Journal and the ����ԭ�� newsletter. Most notably, Haley was the keynote speaker at in December 2024, helping to launch the college’s 40th anniversary celebration with her powerful story of perseverance and purpose.

A graduate of Trabuco Hills High School, Haley is now preparing to transfer to a four-year university. She applied to Cal State Fullerton, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, and MIT. Her long-term goal is to earn a Ph.D. and become a mechanical engineer specializing in CAD design, with a focus on creating affordable, accessible prosthetics—particularly for children. 

“My dream is to help kids just like me by designing devices that empower them,” she says.

For future students, Haley offers this advice: “Find what works for you. Develop your rhythm and your work ethic. Don’t be afraid to fail—be confident, be open to learning from your mistakes, and never stop wanting to learn.”

With her creativity, resilience, and heart for helping others, Haley Barrios is already transforming lives—and she’s just getting started.