Max Beaulieu
Cougar Mentor Summer 2008 - Winter 2009

Kristen Cheriegate
Cougar Mentor Summer 2008 - Summer 2010

I am sixteen-years-old and living proof that if anyone gives college their all, how young you are has no relevance to your success. I have a unique taste in music, photography, and humor. My ambition in life, as for a career, is to be in the FBI. I enjoy meeting new people here at College of the Canyons. I am also motivated to give as much guidance as I can to new students, in order to make their stay here a successful and accomplishing one!

Sharokina Danipour
Cougar Mentor Summer 2007 - Spring 2008
I graduated from Saugus High in 2006 and I have been living in this valley for 10 years. I am a history major and one day I would love to be a professor. I love to travel and spend time with family and close friends. I enjoyed being a Cougar Mentor because I really like helping people out.

Ekaterina Doldjeva
Cougar Mentor Fall 2008 - Fall 2009

I am an international student and this is my second year at COC and in the USA as well. My native country is Bulgaria which is located in southeast Europe. It is a beautiful country with amazing nature! I am a Film Production major and I hope to someday be a professional editor and visual effects designer. I love music, traveling, hanging out with friends, photography and editing short films. I enjoy being a Cougar Mentor because I have a chance to help people out! 

Raveena Gill
Cougar Mentor Winter 2010-Winter 2011
Hello my name is Raveena. I have been at College of the Canyons for about two years and a half. I was actually born in India so this year is my eleventh year in California. Biology is my major mainly because I hope to go to medical school in the near future. Yes you always hear oh she wants to go to Medical School because she is Indian and that’s true but not the reason I want to go. I was always fascinated by the way doctors worked; they know everything about the human body and they are here to assist people who need help. I love helping people and since I am not a doctor I thought let’s become a Cougar Mentor.  So I am here to help you!

Alyssa Gresham
Cougar Mentor since Summer 2009 - Summer 2011
Starting my second year, I wanted to make my mark at COC memorable for years to come; this is the exact reason why I became a Cougar Mentor. I am an English major with dreams of attending UCLA to start my long journey to law school.  Here at COC I have taken advantage of the opportunities around me and became involved in Honors, Service Learning, Law Club, Student Success Club, EOPS, and the Associated Student Government. Through Cougar Mentors I plan to guide others down the road of success, I find it a pleasant place to be, as I have been many times. The following is a quote that symbolizes the entire Cougar Mentor staff at COC, a program I am proud to represent, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell

Nandika Hettiarachchi
Cougar Mentor Summer 2007 - Summer 2009
I am an international student at College of the Canyons, from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a tiny and very beautiful island in the Indian Ocean. My one and a half years in the United States has been a stunning experience for me, living all by myself in a totally different culture. I am a business major and plan on studying International Business and Finance for my Bachelors Degree. It is my ambition in life to protect my dreams, which I hope to achieve some day in life. I am a very friendly, out-going person, and I like to get along with people. I have a ‘cool’ personality, which doesn’t let me lose my temper most of the time. I love to help friends and see them become successful. I have a moral in life, which is, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice.”

Chelsea Hoff
Cougar Mentor since Summer 2010 - Winter 2011

Hello! My name is Chelsea and I am currently in my second and final year at College of The Canyons. I am a Sociology major and hope to transfer to the University of Washington, attend grad school in England, and be a guidance counselor. I love classic rock, especially The Beatles and David Bowie, and am very excited to be a part of the Cougar Mentor team! Peace and love. 

Heather Levy
Cougar Mentor Spring 2007 - Spring 2008
I have lived in the Santa Clarita Valley since I was three. I love it out here and have greatly valued my experience at COC. I will be attending CSUN where I plan to double major in Psychology and Sociology. I want to get PhD’s in both and be both a Therapist and a Professor. I’m also a member of the Psychology club on campus. Being involved on campus has made my time at COC enjoyable.

Kathy MacDonald
Cougar Mentor Fall 2004-Winter 2008
I am proof positive that it’s never too late to education!  After my children were grown, I decided to come back to college, and every semester I discover new and interesting things to study.  Empty-nesters, retirees, and older people looking for retraining are coming to COC in record numbers.  I hope I can help them, and all students, find joy in education, and meet their educational goals.

Jaime Meriwether
Cougar Mentor Spring 2007 - Summer 2008
Hi there! My name is Jaime Meriwether and I enjoy promoting student success and being a successful student. If I am not studying for my classes or involved with extracurricular activities, a truly rare occasion, I am visiting museums, hanging out with friends in Little Tokyo, or venturing down the coast for prime surf spots. Some of my hobbies include, reading, playing musical instruments, and mountain biking. I love animals and reptiles and volunteer as a public educational speaker for the Wildlife Way Station. My favorite animal of all time would be my chinchilla, Sicily.

Behrouz Mohammadbeigy
Cougar Mentor Summer 2007-Winter 2008
This is Behrouz and I am planning to be a computer engineer in the United States. It has been more than two years that I have been living here in the USA and it has been more than a semester that I have participated in different activities at COC such as being a Math Tutor in the TLC Lab and also a Cougar Mentor in the Student Development Office. According to my friends, I am a very easy and outgoing person who loves to hang out with different people from different nationalities and help them out in various ways for achieving their goals. Love all you guys and do my best for you.

Maria Morales
Cougar Mentor Summer 2007 - Winter 2008
My name is Maria Morales. I have five grown children and I am going to graduate this year with my Bachelors degree. I worked for the Cougar Mentor Program because I love helping people. The Cougar Mentor Program is one of the many programs that COC offers to their students. Come and visit us, we are here for you!

Mahsa Motavvef
Cougar Mentor Winter 2010 - Summer 2011
I am 18 years old and have been attending COC for three years, part of which was while I was a high school student at Academy of the Canyons (located in the University Center). Completing the 2010 LA Marathon in March is a goal I have stuck with and am proud to say I accomplished with much confidence and determination. Currently I am a Biology major and am hoping to transfer to a UC school in a couple of semesters.

Clarice Nichols
Cougar Mentor  Winter 2010 - Summer 2011

Hey there, I'm Clarice.  I plan on transferring to CSULB and majoring in Child Development and Family Studies.  I ultimately want to work for make-a-wish, and help families in their time of need. I am also currently writing my first book and we will see where that goes.

Robert Norton
Cougar Mentor Summer 2008 - Spring 2009
I'm from Silver Spring, MD. I've taken a wide assortment of classes at COC so far, but settled on majoring in Environmental Studies. I was a member of Students for Sustainability, Progressive Student Alliance, Model UN club, COC Adventure Society, and one of a few student representatives on the Sustainable Development Committee.

Tyler Pohl
Cougar Mentor Summer 2011- Summer 2011

My name is Tyler Pohl. I have been at COC for around 3 years now earning my degree in Graphic Design. I have enjoyed my time here so far and hope to pass on my knowledge to you and help.

Nandinee Rajyagor
Cougar Mentor Summer 2011 - Spring 2012

My name is Nandinee Rajyagor and I am a 19 year old college student.  I graduated from Academy of the Canyons in 2010.  This is my second year as a full-time student.  My major is Kinesiology and I plan on becoming a physical therapist in the future.  The reason I want to become a physical therapist is because I absolutely love helping people, which is also the reason I became a Cougar Mentor.

Kristi Robinson
Cougar Mentor Spring 2007 - Fall 2008
I am a returning student after an 18 year absence from school. I am also a single mother of three wonderful boys ages 22, 6 and 4. I came back to school with the intention of getting my nursing license however my experience here at COC has taught me new things about myself, which eventually changed my career path. I am now studying business with an emphasis on becoming a human resource manager. When I came back to school I thought I would just take my classes and work, but it was because of my campus involvement as a member of Hite, Alpha Gamma Sigma, Vice President of Gamma Beta Phi, President of Student Success Club, many hours of community service through Service Learning and my other job as lead peer adviser for EOPS that has really been essential in teaching me about opportunities that are out there. I like to consider myself an example of how anything is possible for those who dare to dream and I look forward to helping make those dreams a reality for all COC students.

Xavier-Quinn Roman
Cougar Mentor Summer 2011 - Fall 2012

Hey guys, I'm Xavier. I'm a political science major and am currently finishing up my last year here at COC, I love to make things and my punk concerts, I'm an avid outdoors man and an all around nice guy. So if you need help adjusting to COC or have a variety of other concerns stop by the Student Development office, across from the book store in the Student Center, and we will do our best to help.

Rachel Randall
Cougar Mentor Summer 2010 - Summer 2011

Hello everybody! My name is Rachel. I've been a COC student now for over three years -- two while attending high school at Academy of the Canyons, and one full-time after I graduated in 2009. I plan to transfer to a 4-year university in Fall 2011 and major in English (with a creative writing emphasis), and also hopefully minor in Film and Television Production. My ultimate goal is to be a television comedy writer, for shows like The Daily Show or SNL. COC has been a vital step in my education, and has helped me discover my goals and career aspirations. I'm happy to be a part of the Cougar Mentor program, and hope I can help fellow students have a positive experience here at COC.

Monique Rosenthal
Cougar Mentor Summer 2010-Winter 2011

Hi, I am a returning student here at COC and have been enrolled here for 3 years. I am a nursing major and plan on transferring to Mt. Saint Mary's to finish up my B.S. in nursing and more likely on to a Masters.  I am a wife and a mother of 2 very intelligent boys. I love listening to music and listening to my son playing his alto saxophone. I love the outdoors and watching nature, as well as playing sports such as tennis which is my favorite sport. Our family loves to travel; we have been to places such as Paris France, Boston MA, Hawaii, and plan on traveling to Europe this winter break. Just a word of advice "nothing is impossible as long as you believe in yourself."

Karinne Smith
Cougar Mentor Summer 2010 - Winter 2011

Hello! My name is Karinne Smith and I have been a student at College of the Canyons for two years. As a Fine Arts major with an emphasis on photography, I have aspirations to photograph the good and the bad in our world today. A dream for me would be to travel worldwide and photograph for an organization that sheds light on human rights violations. In my spare time I enjoy running, volunteering, traveling, and sitting back and watching HBO shows (no commercials!). Since I’m very eager to help others in need, I (gratefully) became a member of the Cougar Mentor Program Staff to help you in accomplishing your goals and dreams during your time at College of the Canyons! 

Ashley Stegeman
Cougar Mentor Summer 2010 - Spring 2011

Hello, my name is Ashley and I have attended College of the Canyons for over a year. I am a Biology major and plan to transfer to UCLA to pursue a career in the medical field. Here at College of the Canyons, I have become involved in Honors, PTK AGS Honors Clubs, Service Learning, and the Associated Student Government. So far, I have enjoyed my time at College of the Canyons and I look forward to advising new students and helping them succeed at the college level.

Madeline Tan
Cougar Mentor Winter 2010 - Spring 2011
Hi! I am a Communications major, and with that I hope to not only learn how to interact with and motivate people, but also chase my life-long ambition of producing and broadcasting television news. In my spare time, I enjoy running (training for a marathon!), film, travel, the beach, and a good laugh! I am very excited to be a part of the Cougar Mentor team, and I hope to make this experience successful and enjoyable for everyone involved. This is Madeline Tan, over and out! ;)

Loren Vallin-Flores
Cougar Mentor Fall 2006 - Spring 2008
I’ve lived in Santa Clarita for 18 years.  When I grow up I want to work for a magazine (and then start my own one day), be an event planner, film documentaries, direct music videos, host a television show and start a line of clothing of course! I love music, fashion, photography and art.  I am especially passionate about helping students grow and achieve more out of their college experience here at College of the Canyons. I love meeting new students, learning about their dreams and encouraging them to turn them into a reality! 

Caitlin Ward
Cougar Mentor Fall 2007 - Spring 2008
Hi, my name is Caitlin Ward. I really enjoy anything and everything having to do with music, as well as helping students in anyway I can. I will be attending CSUN to study Music Therapy.

Natasha Wegter
Cougar Mentor Summer 2009 - Spring 2010
I am sixteen years old and I have been attending COC for three years. I have learned and accomplished so much here, and, as a Cougar Mentor, I hope to help other students grow and succeed here. I am a Political Science major, and I hope to transfer to Georgetown or UC Berkley next year. I am Vice President of the Political Science Club on campus. Outside of school, I love reading, traveling, fashion, and poltics. COC is full of amazing opportunites, and as a Cougar Mentor I hope to help other students make the most of them.

Hyoshim (Anna) Yang
Cougar Mentor Summer 2008 - Fall 2008

I am a true believer that anything can be possible. I remember when I stepped off the plane in the US I didn’t even know how to say “hello” in English. But 5 years later from that day, I finished a nursing program and plan to get a master's degree in nursing.  Also, I am a mentor at College of the Canyons. I really want to help students find out their passions in education and make their dreams come true.