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The AGREES Peer Advisor program is a unique leadership experience for students in the College of Agriculture. It provides students the opportunity to participate in the College’s retention and first year experience efforts. Those students selected to serve gain valuable experience working in a team environment, interacting with students and faculty, and developing leadership and career skills.
The primary duty of an AGREES Peer Advisor is to be a resource for incoming new students, both freshmen and transfer students. This is accomplished by serving as a teaching assistant in the freshmen AG 100 classes, conducting Transfer Roundtables, and holding office hours in the AGREES Center. In addition, Peer Advisors participate in a variety of other college and university activities, including orientation, Bronco Fusion, Club Fair & Ice Cream Social, Pumpkin Festival, and Open House. The Peer Advisors also look for new ways to contribute to student life in the college and in 2009, began publishing the College of Agriculture’s Student Handbook and Planner.
The AGREES Peer Advisors are a chartered organization with the University and as such, elect an officer team, participate in the College of Agriculture's student government, Ag Council, and conduct fundraising activities.
Students interested in becoming a Peer Advisor must participate in the annual selection process. Applications are accepted in January each year. Qualified applicants then participate in a selection workshop and an individual interview during the month of February. Peer Advisors are announced in March and training begins in spring quarter. Peer Advisors serve a one year term beginning with summer quarter and continuing through the following spring quarter.
| President: | Katherine Steffen |
|---|---|
| Vice President: | Rachael Fisher |
| Secretary: | Morgan Gray |
| Treasurer: | Tricia Hwang |
| Publicity: | Jonathan Yang |
| Ag Council Rep: | Brittany Mazurki |
| Social Chair: | Samantha Hoelzel |
| Advisor: | Rhonda Ostrowksi |
| Club Email: | kasteffen@csupomona.edu |
| Club website: | www.csupomona.edu/~agri/students/agrees.shtml |
| Meeting date/time/location: | Every Thursday/12:00 p.m./2-125 |
| Club majors: | All agriculture majors |
| Number of members in 2010-2011: | 7 |
| Club Events & Activities: | Orientation, Bronco Fusion, Club Fair & Ice Cream Social, Pumpkin Festival, Open House, Transfer Roundtables, AG100 teacher assistant, College of Agriculture Student Handbook and Planner |
| General Information: | A unique leadership experience for students in the College of Agriculture. It provides students the opportunity to participate in the College's retention and first year experience efforts. Those students selected to serve gain valuable experience working in a team environment, interacting with students and faculty, and developing leadership and career skills. |
| History of Club: | Established in 2004-2005. |
| Club Goals: | To be a resource for incoming new students, both freshmen and transfers. |
Name: Brittany Mazurki
Major: Animal Science, Pre-Vet Option
Year in School: Third
Age: 21
College Activities: Pre-Vet Club member, Dean's Honor List, intramural soccer, Sigma Kappa Sorority, going to the beach, hanging out with friends, shopping, and running.
Hometown: San Clemente, CA
High School: Capistrano Valley Christian School
Work: Angel Stadium Team Store
Career Plans: I plan on attending vet school to pursue a career as a small animal vet, and hopefully open my own veterinarian animal hospital.
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: My favorite Cal Poly Pomona experience has been the animal science labs at the animal units. I learned a lot of new information about the animals we got to work with. I enjoyed these labs because I got hands on experience that I probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere else.
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor: I am excited to be a Peer Advisor so, that I can help the incoming freshman and transfer students with any advice they need. As a Peer Advisor, I think it's really important to have someone to guide you through the process of being at a new school. I believe as a Peer Advisor, I can make the transition easier for the freshman or transfer students by just knowing the answers to any of the questions they might have for me. Ultimately, I want to help each student succeed in college!
Name: Jonathan Yang
Major: Animal Science, Pre-Vet Option
Year in School: Fourth
Age: 21
College Activities: Livestock Show Team, Equestrian Drill Team, Peer Advisors
Hobbies: Snowboarding, swimming, watching movies, going to the beach, and critiquing restaurants on “Yelp.”
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea & Fullerton, CA
High School: Troy High School
Work: Private Math Tutor & Student Assistant for the Credential Services Office (Building 5)
Career Plans: I aspire to become a large or small animal veterinarian and open up my own practice one day. I also plan on pursuing a degree in academia involving Animal Sciences of sorts in the future so that I can stay at school… forever!
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: My favorite experience at CPP would be my experience as a live-in employee at the Sheep/Swine Unit. I gained experience with all sorts of large animals (sheep, goats, swine) and became familiarized with farm animal husbandry, medication, processing, industry, and maintenance. I always tell stories about “my days at the farm” to all of my friends because the memories and friendships I've made with the other employees are unforgettable.
Personal Statement about being a Peer Advisor: I recently took a seminar/course at my church about “being a good host” and learned that the most successful organizations have its members harboring a sense of deep importance and pride for their organization. I am very excited to spend my final year at school, instilling excitement into the new freshmen about all that Cal Poly Pomona has to offer. I love helping people with anything and everything, because it's my personal source of happiness. My goal as a peer advisor is to do my best to make new and returning students feel at home and encourage them to get involved, so that the new generation of students can feel proud and take ownership of the university.
Name: Katie Steffen
Major: Animal Science, Pre-Vet Option
Year: Fourth
Age: 21
College Activities: Peer Advisor 2010-2011, Pre-vet club Fundraising Chair 2010-2011, Golden Key International Honour Society member, volunteer at W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center, Foal Watch, and International Viscera Cooler Club member.
Hobbies: Riding horses, reading, hanging out with boyfriend/friends, shopping
Hometown : Norco, CA
High School: Norco High School
Work: Full Time Student.
Career Plans: I plan on attending veterinary school to pursue a career as an equine vet. I hope to find my interests within the field and find where I would like to specialize as I become more experienced.
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: I really enjoyed the Animal Science 114 lab that I took my first quarter at Cal Poly! The first day of classes as a freshman I castrated a calf, and the class continued to be intriguing throughout the entire quarter! I love the hands-on experience that I gain through my Animal Science courses.
Personal Statement about being a Peer Advisor: By being a Peer Advisor I want to help the freshman and transfer students make a smooth transition into Cal poly. By becoming involved on campus I have really grown as a person and I would like to show new students all the opportunities offered to them so they can do the same. I love the College of Ag and I wish to keep the new students informed on all of the great things the college and the university have to offer. I hope that my experiences will help guide incoming students to success!
Name: Morgan Gray
Major: Plant Science
Year in School: Fourth
Age: 21
College Activities: Foaling Team, Livestock Show Team
Hobbies: Reading, writing, gardening, hanging out with friends
Hometown: Chatsworth, CA
High School: Chatsworth High School
Work: Not currently working
Career Plans: I'd like to eventually work for the USDA or pursue a career as a landscape designer with a nursery business on the side. I'd also like to earn a PCA to assist me in whatever line of business I go into!
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: Getting to stick my arm into a cow's stomach!
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor: This will be my second year as a Peer Advisor and I'm eagerly looking forward to helping next year's round of freshmen and transfer students adjust to their new lives at Cal Poly. I've had an amazing time working with all the students and can't wait to meet more people and hopefully make new friends from the experience as well!
Name: Rachael Fisher
Major: Animal Science, Pre- Vet Option
Year in School: Fourth
Age: 21
College Activities: IHSA, International Viscera Cooler Club, Pre-Vet, Livestock Show Team, and Peer Advisors
Hobbies: Crafting, visiting national and state parks, playing with my dog, Caly
Hometown: Castro Valley, CA
High School: Castro Valley High School
Work: College of Science Dean's Office Student Assistant
Career Plans: I hope to become a large animal veterinarian and specialize in bovine medicine.
Favorite CPP Experience: My favorite Cal Poly Pomona experience has been attending the National Meat Expo in Las Vegas with the International Viscera Cooler Club. We took our sausage product to the University Cook-Off Competition at the convention. This experience allowed me to meet experts and leaders in the meat industry which got me excited about my future plans to become a food animal vet.
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor: I am excited that I am a peer advisor so that I can help acclimate new incoming freshman and transfer students to the College of Ag and Cal Poly Pomona. When I was a freshman, I spent a lot of time in the AGREES Center and received valuable information and advice from the Peer Advisors. I hope to do the same with the new incoming students so that they can have a smooth transition to Cal Poly Pomona by sharing my knowledge and experiences with them.
Name: Samantha Hoelzel
Major: Food and Nutrition
Year in School: Fourth
Age: 23
College Activities: Currently in the FN Forum Club
Hobbies: Running, yoga, going to the beach, and reading.
Hometown: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
High School: Mira Monte High School
Transferred From: Irvine Valley/Saddleback College
Work: Full-time student
Career Plans: My career plan is to become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.). As an R.D. I want to work in a clinical setting, but my overall goal is to do nutrition research in preventive medicine.
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor: As a Peer Advisor for the College of Agriculture I hope to learn as much as I can about California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. I also hope to gain knowledge from the students and faculty at Cal Poly Pomona. My goals as an Advisor are to help my fellow students succeed with their time at Cal Poly Pomona. As a Peer Advisor I will provide information on how to succeed and support for my fellow students who wish to receive it. I will do my best to provide as many answers and support to those who wish to gain success at Cal Poly Pomona.
Name: Tricia Hwang
Major: Food Science and Technology, Culinology Track
Year in School: Third
Age: 20
College Activities: Peer Advisors, Dean's Honor List
Hobbies: Snowboarding, going on runs, walks, and hikes with my dog, going to concerts, eating at new places with my boyfriend, cooking, and baking.
Hometown: Brea, CA
High School: Brea Olinda High School
Transferred from: UCI, Fullerton Junior College, and Mt. San Antonio College
Work: Not currently working
Career Plans: My ideal job/career is to work in research and development or product development making delicious foods even more delicious - and healthier too!
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: My favorite experience is my first tour around CPP that was given to me by a couple friends; I'll never forget walking up and down the hills in the blazing heat, but they made it fun and memorable for me!
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor: Whether you're a freshman or transfer student, college is definitely a lot easier when your transition into it is smooth, so I hope that the advice, resources, and personal experiences I can provide you with will help you to succeed. I look forward to meeting new students, staff, and becoming more involved with the College of Agriculture as a Peer Advisor, to not only further enrich my personal CPP experience, but to also help enrich other students' experiences.
Peer Advisor 2012-2013 Application Packet (pdf)
All applicants will be required to:
Note: You must have Adobe Reader to open and view all PDF files with full functionality. To download Adobe Reader, visit http://get.adobe.com/reader/.
By accepting the position of Peer Advisor, a student agrees to fulfill the following responsibilities:
Peer Advisors receive the following benefits:
For questions or more information, please contact:
Rhonda Ostrowski
Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
College of Agriculture
2-114
(909) 869-3718
rlostrowski@csupomona.edu
