Name: Cogie Celzo (he/him/his)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2022
Majors/Minors: Psychological Science Major, Asian American Studies Minor
Committees: FLI(GHT), SOAPE
What does the AARC mean to you? To me, the AARC represents both a home for APIDA identities and a symbol of what we as a collective are capable of achieving when we mobilize (as the AARC was birthed out of activism). I think the AARC stands as a reminder that both inter- and intra-ethnic & racial solidarity and camaraderie will assist us in achieving collective liberation and the fulfillment of each of our group’s material needs.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC?
Outside of the AARC, you will find me either taking care of my houseplants, strumming away at my guitar, prettying up my agenda, or looking up recipes only to not follow them when baking/cooking.
Favorite childhood snack?
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. They remind me a lot of my childhood. I love baking them when I can, too. The cookie structure, but the fudgy center?? I’m in.

Name: Marina Aina (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2023
Majors/Minors: Undecided 😦 Probs American Studies Though
Committees: SOAPE, STEP
What does the AARC mean to you? Warmth 😀 Like everyone involved with AARC has a comforting presence (even if entirely drained with life) and it is apparent they do the work they do out of a place of love/wanting to see a difference.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? Sleeping, snacking, and watching anime are probably the main ones. I also enjoy catching up with pals (whether via technology or in person if they live close enough), my family, and playing with my dog ❤
Favorite childhood snack? If anything, I really enjoy salty chips and always feel at peace munching on those! If we’re talking about food as in meals, then my dad’s fried rice (preferably with spam or shrimp)! I’ve grown up eating it, so when I eat it nowadays I always feel nostalgic and think back to a time where I was more light hearted and innocent :,)

Name: J.J. Shankar (he/him/his)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2022
Majors/Minors: Math
Committees: RISE, STEP
What does the AARC mean to you? To me, the AARC means community, especially during a time when community is difficult to come by. Being able to share space and partake in fellowship with other APIDA-identifying folks, while learning and growing in my own APIDA identity, is something that I am thankful for everyday.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? These days, I enjoy taking walks and playing my guitar (I’ve been trying to learn some bossa nova and k-pop songs). I also deeply enjoy watching films, especially those by Cassavetes, Fassbinder, and Hou Hsiao-hsien!
Favorite childhood snack? Goldfish!

Name: Hanna Cho (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Scripps College, Class of 2022
Majors/Minors: Politics major, Asian American studies minor
Committees: AAMP/AdBoard
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC represents a new space of growth, warmth, and excitement. I feel connected with the other AARC interns even though we have only met through zoom. Everyone is extremely thoughtful, engaging, and motivated in regards to building a community of inclusivity. I am very grateful to be part of the AARC and look forward to learning more from my peers.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? Outside of the AARC, I like to play with my family’s puppy and cook new recipes (thanks scripps for the nytimes subscription). I have been playing Among Us with friends every week. I love watching What We Do In the Shadows on Hulu and typically hop among different shows (sometimes I do not finish them). My absolute favorite pastime from summer was playing The Last of Us: Part II(an amazing video game).
Favorite childhood snack? Chips and queso (from costco)! also tacquitos (from costco lol)

Name: Kristine Chang (she/they)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Cognitive Science major/Linguistics minor
Committees: EARLY, RISE
What does the AARC mean to you? a community space to learn, reflect on, and explore the identities of my past/present/future selves and people i care about
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? doodling, cooking/baking, watching tiktoks
Favorite childhood snack? chocolate pocky!

Name: Aiu Taber (he/him/his)
School and Year: Harvey Mudd College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Engineering
Committees: STEP
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC is a space to foster growth outside of the generic college lifestyle. It is a space for folks to be able to foster intentional community that provides meaningful support to the APIDA community at the 5Cs and beyond.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? I enjoy playing music when I have the time. I play Guitar and Ukulele and I sing a bit. I really enjoy being outside in the fresh air doing anything from exercising to homework. I also enjoy just hanging out in good company.
Favorite childhood snack? Li Hing Mui Seed. It’s a really interesting combo of salty, sweet and sour, and I’m all about salty/sour snacks.

Name: Nguyễn Thiện Đerrick (he/him/his)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2022
Majors/Minors: Linguistics
Committees: FLI(GHT)
What does the AARC mean to you? I’m grateful of the AARC for providing a space that allowed me to connect with others that shared my identities and passions for global APIDA issues. As a First-Generation Low-Income Queer Southeast Asian student, it’s difficult to find and connect with others like me, but with the AARC, I was able to embrace and take pride being who I am and advocate for others like me at the Claremont Colleges and Higher Education overall. Furthermore, prior to arriving to the Claremont Colleges, I grew up in a conservative environment (Arkansas) and held anti-Asian sentiments that drew me away from APIDA issues and events. It was a random decision of mine to apply for the APIDA Alternabreak where I met other AARC Interns (Shoutout to Jacob and Alexa) and AARC Director Mike and CAPAS Director Linda to learn about non-profit work, contemporary APIDA Issues, and the importance of APIDA history in the United States. From that life changing trip, I became interested in APIDA issues and how to empower marginalized voices after being inspired by what I experienced. (***Note to whoever is in charge: I’d like to add that I’m the Alternabreak coordinator and am not technically a part of any committees. I’m volunteering for FLIGHT because I want to help empower the intersection of the FLI and APIDA Experience; just a note :))
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? In my free time I, surprisingly, enjoy doing my independent study and research of Historical Vietnamese Linguistics. I also try to keep up with my Spanish fluency by reading Spanish literature and watching Spanish media. This summer I discovered my passion for reading and have been since primarily for pleasure! It’s a great activity that keeps me engaged with knowledge but away from the toxic mentality Pomona sometimes induces. Some of the themes I enjoy reading about include queer literature, Southeast Asian literature especially Vietnamese/Viet-American literature, and historical fiction. However my all-time favorite activity is hanging out with friends! Some of my fondest memories includes playing Monkey with my AAMP group when I was a freshman and cooking/baking with my good friends in Oldy kitchen or Blaisedell kitchen. :’)
Favorite childhood snack? Cream Puffs & Chocolate Eclairs

Name: Manali Joshi (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Scripps College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Politics and Economics
Committees: RISE, SOAPE
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC is a loving and supportive community that has been so important to me in these last few years. The AARC allows students to come together and work towards our collective goal of justice by meaningfully centering marginalized narratives and identities. For me, the AARC has been one of the few places where I can be entirely myself, in all my identities, and has pushed me to grow in numerous ways. I am so grateful to be able to learn from all the incredible artists, activists and organizers that make up the AARC.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? I love to cook, soak up the sun, discover new music and dance with friends!
Favorite childhood snack? Gur Roti (when I was little I would stuff jaggery in a leftover roti and eat it for my after dinner snack :P)

Name: Emily Lu (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Scripps College, Class of 2022
Majors/Minors: Computer Science
Committees: SOAPE, STEP
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC gives me space to heal and grow :’) The AARC means learning and unlearning.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? Crafting! Painting! Making playlists! Napping! Watching Tik Toks! Hanging with Friends! Watching (and rewatching) movies!
Favorite childhood snack? Lychee Jelly

Name: Grace Zhirui Shao (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Scripps College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Economics Major, Digital Art Minor
Committees: Production
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC is a place where I can continue to cultivate my personal growth and impact beyond Scripps’ APIDA community. It is an incredibly welcoming community that allows me to be grounded in my own identity while actively learning and being in solidarity with others. Through mutual respect, understanding, and growth, the AARC creates an intentional space to foster productive change in the 5C community and beyond.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? In school, I am a part of student government and the student investment fund. I’ve found a lot of joy in learning from my peers outside of the classroom. Otherwise, I spend most of my time hanging out with friends, usually over food or cheesy television. I really love exploring new cities, aimless walks, creating and seeing art, afternoons spent in coffee shops, and late night conversations over drinks.
Favorite childhood snack? 旺仔QQ糖 (fruit gummies) or 旺旺雪饼 (rice crackers)

Name: Nicah Vhin Driza (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Molecular Biology Major, Asian American Studies Minor
Committees: FLI(GHT)
What does the AARC mean to you? Physically, the AARC is a space in the SCC that is always open to welcome me for a chat with my fellow interns or with Mike, Sena, and Sarah Lynn. Going virtual has made me miss it tremendously, but I also know the AARC is so much more than a building – it is a community that is always open to welcome me and all parts of my identity. It has been a safe space where some of my closest relationships have blossomed, and where I know I am able to fully express myself. It’s a community that is centered in love, and a place that I know I can call home.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? I love making/binding handmade books, collecting pins, and handmade earrings created by small businesses (if you have any fave stores pls let me know hehe I’d love to swap recs!). I’ve recently gotten into just…creating things, and have tried to have a go at making my own earrings, making zines, and creating some ~digital~ art!
Favorite childhood snack? Taho! It’s a Philippine sweet snack with soft tofu, brown sugar syrup, and tapioca pearls. Soooo yummy!

Name: Brendan Ly (he/him/his)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2022
Majors/Minors: French & Linguistics
Committees: EARLY, FLI(GHT)
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC has always been a home away from home. It’s a space where I’ve met many of my closest friends at Pomona, and a place where I feel comfortable being myself.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? I love chatting with friends, listening to new music and making playlists, playing video games (League and Genshin Impact right now), and watching anime and dramas, specifically Asian BL dramas! Ask me for recommendations and you shall receive :^)!
Favorite childhood snack? fried tofu

Name: Sarah Embry (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Harvey Mudd College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Computer Science with a concentration in Theatre
Committees: AAMP/AdBoard
What does the AARC mean to you? To me, the AARC is a place of learning and growth. It is an intentional space that fosters community and change within the 5C APIDA community and beyond.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? I love making music and art!! I sing a lot–mainly musical theatre and/or karaoke, as well as play the piano and ukulele. I also really love curating playlists on Spotify, eating yummy food, and going to the theatre whenever I can.
Favorite childhood snack? Vietnamese mung bean cakes!

Name: Alexa Bayangos (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Math
Committees: STEP, AAMP/AdBoard
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC is one of the first spaces I felt fully comfortable exploring my Filipinx American identity. I have learned & grown so much throughout my time at the AARC and I have so much love for this community!
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? When I’m not busy working with STEP and AAMP, you can probably find me playing guitar, going on a hike, or destroying my housemates in poker.
Favorite childhood snack? Pandesal (a Filipino bread roll) with sugar and butter

Name: Tarini (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Studio Art
Committees: Production, RISE
What does the AARC mean to you? To me, the AARC means community. I always look forward to fonofale on Fridays because I love seeing everyone and catching up. The AARC is also a place of learning and warmth and I feel like I have been able to do a lot of work that is really meaningful to me during my time at the AARC.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? Making playlists, downloading fonts, folding laundry, hanging out with my friends (I love and miss them so much!), eating brunch at Frary (I love and miss it so much!), and reading (at the risk of sounding extremely obnoxious, ask me for my Goodreads 😋). (So many parentheses here–sorry!)
Favorite childhood snack? I liked to grate cheese into a bowl and eat it. I also liked (and still like) the ‘American Style Cream & Onion’ Lays that they sell in India; it is colloquially known as ‘Green Lays’ because of the green packaging. However, I deeply dislike the ‘Sour Cream and Onion’ flavoured Lays they sell in America (the packaging of this Lays is also green).

Name: Aileen Zheng (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Claremont McKenna College, Class of 2023
Majors/Minors: International Relations and History dual major with a Data Science sequence
Committees: EARLY, SOAPE
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC is an amazing and empowering community to be a part of. I’m so grateful for the support, to constantly growing, to learning from everyone, as well as being encouraged to explore my identity and interests.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? sunset watching, reading, listening to podcasts and music, journaling, spending time with friends
Favorite childhood snack? Shelly Senbei Rice Crackers!!! so so tasty!!

Name: Kano Cheng (any pronouns)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2022
Majors/Minors: English
Committees: Production, EARLY
What does the AARC mean to you? I end up reading and thinking a lot of theory for class, and it’s easy to get lost in all the abstract stuff. The AARC is where I can not only apply theory to my work, but also feel real and grounded in the AARC’s community, the communities around Pomona, and the vibrantly material world as we live in it. We take time to slow down, care for each other intentionally, and listen thoughtfully, and so the work that comes out of the AARC will never cease to amaze me.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? I drink a truly absurd amount of tea, and I especially love taking the time to brew loose leaf tea in the 工夫茶 (gongfucha) style, which is ideal for hosting and sharing with friends and family. I also am working on unlearning fast fashion; I love thrifting and am teaching myself how to alter and sew my own clothes. You are, of course, invited to try all of this with me!
Favorite childhood snack? It’s a bit large for a snack, but I adore 番茄鸡蛋面 (tomato egg noodle soup). At some point, there was a certain restaurant in Chinatown whose staff recognized me as that one kid that always orders 番茄鸡蛋面….

Name: Claire Generous (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Environmental Analysis with a minor in Asian American Studies
Committees: STEP
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC is a safe space to learn how to be a strong ally and advocate for social justice. The AARC means that APIDA-identifying folks can have a space to celebrate and empower one another.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? I enjoy hiking, climbing, and cooking.
Favorite childhood snack? Spring rolls

Name: Renee Susanto (she/her/hers)
School and Year: Pomona College, Class of 2021
Majors/Minors: Religious Studies
Committees: Production
What does the AARC mean to you? The AARC is one of my most beloved communities on campus — it has been a space where I have not only been supported, but also given the resources and tools to think about and work through the messy, complex puzzle of my Southeast-Asian, diasporic, Asian hyphenated American identity. It’s such a privilege to be able to do APIDA identity work (and be compensated for it!) that engages with the broader campus community.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the AARC? When I’m not thinking about my identity crisis, I enjoy making avocado toast, playing with my dog (Spotty), writing letters (hit me up if you wanna be pen pals) and making art!
Favorite childhood snack? lumpur (sweet sticky rice with shredded chicken wrapped in banana leaves)

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