2023-24 President's Scholars

Clara Guirguis

Albert Zoraster President’s Scholar

Major: Animal Science, Pre-Veterinary

Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture

Activities: President of Alpha Lambda Delta and member of Pre-Vet Club; Achieve Scholars Program

One Word to Describe CPP: “Hands-on. Our school is very much focused on doing rather than just talking about which is one of the main reasons I chose CPP.”

Clara describes herself as a kinesthetic learner who highly values her volunteer, club and work experiences as part of her academic journey. Learning skills through a job as a vet assistant, Clara continued her growth as a veterinary technician at Placentia Veterinary Clinic, where she solidified her desire to become a surgeon under the tutelage of mentor Dr. Debra Cassebeer. At Cal Poly Pomona, she expanded her research experience, participating in Professor Glenn Kageyama’s laboratory to focus on neuron loss in Alzheimer’s disease. Her campus involvement with the Pre-Vet Club has provided opportunities to connect with students and professors, helping her toward her goal of attending veterinary school. “Academics are one part of distinguishing yourself and go hand-in-hand with experiences. At CPP, I’ve joined more organizations, and taken on leadership roles with a goal to do more in the future such as peer advising and the Horsemanship Club. I want to make my experience that much better but also help others have good experiences as well.”