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Claudette Castillo ’28  

I am a first-generation Mexican American first-year student from Brooklyn, New York. I found out about Skidmore through my college counselor, an alum who encouraged me to apply. After touring Skidmore, 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 Skidmore 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 Skidmore 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 Skidmore 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 Skidmore, 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 Skidmore, I am currently involved in Skidmore 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. Skidmore 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 Skidmore 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 Skidmore, 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 Skidmore.  
 
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 Skidmore 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 Skidmore 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 Skidmore pours into their students to succeed and discover their passions.  
 
As an international student, being part of the African Heritage Awareness (AHA) club and the International Student Union (ISU) has been incredibly important to me. These spaces have allowed me to connect with others who understand what it’s like to be far from home, while also celebrating our cultures and experiences. I’ve also found a faith-based community through a Christian group on campus, where I’ve been able to grow spiritually and build genuine friendships. 
 
I also partake in research with my professor, which allows me to discuss upcoming research and collect data. This year, I was able to present my research at the 2025 EPA conference, which was a great experience getting to know and interact with peers and professionals with similar interests.  
 
I am passionate about clinical psychology, specifically mental health, because of the community I grew up in. Mental health stigma is very apparent, and it was difficult watching loved ones suffer from this without having support systems or resources to lean on. This inspired me to want to learn more and be an advocate not just for people in my community, but for everyone who is fighting in silence. In pursuing my goals to become a clinical psychologist, I have gained hands-on experience through an internship at the Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and through volunteering at a home for people with developmental disabilities in Kenya. I am excited about gaining even more experience at the clinic this summer and potentially working at Saratoga Bridges in the fall!  
 
To relax, I love crocheting, cooking, painting, catching up with friends and family, and taking long walks at the park. 

 Erick Mulindi ’25

I learned about ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ through an alumnus from my high school, the African Leadership Academy, who was attending Skidmore at the time. This connection happened during the COVID-19 pandemic when I was in Uganda with limited travel options. I explored Skidmore through a virtual tour and immediately fell in love with its green campus and sustainability initiatives. The College’s Creative Thought Matters philosophy resonated deeply with me, and I could envision myself thriving there. 
 
At Skidmore, I was warmly welcomed by Student Academic Services and the Opportunity Program. I fondly remember Ms. Kelli, director of the Opportunity Program, visiting me during my first five days of quarantine. Her thoughtfulness in bringing OP merchandise, bedding, and welcome gifts has stayed with me and helped me feel at home. The support from OP and SAS has been crucial to my student life and success at Skidmore.  
 
During my freshman year, I joined the African Heritage Awareness Club as secretary. This organization helped me connect with other international students and Africans on campus, providing a welcoming space that allowed me to contribute to campus culture while finding a community with a shared background. I gradually expanded my involvement, joining clubs like Ujima, Raíces, and the Computer Science Club to meet new people, gain diverse experiences, and learn from others. Recently, with support from Skidmore’s Summer Experience Fund, I was able to launch a primary school in Uganda to increase access to education for underserved children. The school currently has an enrollment of over 500 children.  
 
I also enjoy spending time with friends, exploring Saratoga, and playing sports on campus, particularly volleyball, swimming, and soccer. I’ve spent time building my passion for education through volunteer work as well. 
 
As a first-year student, I ambitiously planned to study economics, mathematics, and computer science, and participate in the Dual Degree Engineering Program. I, however, eventually discovered that computer science was my true passion and decided to focus exclusively on the field. Throughout my sophomore, junior, and senior years, I immersed myself, working as a Computer Science Peer Academic Coach, teaching assistant, and network assistant for the IT Department. As I approach graduation in about a month, I’m excited to continue pursuing my passion as a software engineer at Amazon. 
 

Tiffany Flores ’25

I’m from Queens, New York, and I’m a political science-Spanish major and a student-athlete on the varsity volleyball team. My journey to Skidmore was very surprising because it was not a school I knew or was looking into at first. Then my dad told me about it and said I should send some volleyball highlights videos to the school coach. I toured the campus to see if I liked it, and as soon as I stepped foot on campus I felt like I belonged, unlike other campus tours that felt like I was looking at a community from the outside. I learned more about the opportunities I could have here and felt like I could explore all of my interests, no matter how distant they were from my major. On top of political science, I have studied areas such as photography and piano. Skidmore has allowed me to learn about different fields and use those tools