Meet Our Ag Ambassadors
Samantha Serna
Major: Animal Science, Pre-Vet
Year in School: Senior
Email: sdserna@cpp.edu
Hi! My name is Samantha Serna, and I am currently a 4th year Animal Science Major/ Pre-Vet option. I love going on hikes, reading, and playing with my two dogs! My time at Cal Poly Pomona has been full of great experiences with getting hands on experience with animals as my favorite. I am currently a part of the Kellogg Honors College, EOP, Pre-Vet Club, VeRG, and Hermanos Unidos. I have also had great opportunities be a part of research projects and volunteer at our campus Vivarium/ Biotrek! As an Ag Ambassador, I hope to guide prospective students towards our amazing school and show them all the opportunities that they can have when they choose CPP!
Arianda Cass
Major: Master of Science in Agricultural Science
Email: ariandal@cpp.edu
Hello! My name is Arianda Cass and I am a first-generation graduate student. I am pursuing a Master of Science in Agricultural Science and a Single Subject/Ag Specialist Teaching Credential. I had completed my undergrad at Cal Poly Pomona in May 2021, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science with an emphasis in Animal Science. I transferred from Mt. San Antonio College in 2019 with an Associate of Science in Livestock Management and skill certificates in Animal Science Fundamentals and Livestock Production Management. I am from West Covina, California. I grew up being a part of the National FFA Organization at my alma mater, Covina High School. As an FFA member, I had raised broiler chickens, turkeys, market hogs, and a veal calf as well as participated in vegetable judging events, opening/closing ceremonies, and other public speaking events. I had interacted and visited with the Cal Poly Pomona campus and students frequently for FFA Field Days and the LA County Fair. My experiences with agriculture and my high school ag teacher have inspired me to become an agricultural science teacher within a secondary education level and potentially at a post-secondary level. I have enjoyed every second of my time here at CPP and I look forward to meeting and guiding prospective CPP HCOA students as an Agriculture Ambassador!
Alexis Sierra
Major: Animal Health Science
Year in School: Senior
Email: alexissierra@cpp.edu
Hey everyone! My name is Alexis Sierra and I am a 4th year Animal Health Science major with a science emphasis. It’s also my second year as an Ag Ambassador! In my free time I love going to Disney and spending time with my pets. One of the reasons I chose CPP is because I’m very passionate about taking care of animals. I’ve had the opportunity here to work with animals of all shapes and sizes - from a mouse to a horse and many in between. As an Animal Health Science major, I will become a Registered Veterinary Technologist (veterinary nurse) after I graduate and I hope to work specifically in marine mammal rescue/rehabilitation! I’ve learned so much during my time at CPP and it has truly made an impact not only on my career goals, but who I am as a person. As an Ag Ambassador, I’ve really enjoyed providing outreach on our programs. Cal Poly Pomona truly has something for everyone and these past 4 years have been a blast. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have!
Lauren Ruiz
Major: Agriculture Science
Year in School: Sophomore
Email: lmruiz@cpp.edu
Hello, my name is Lauren Ruiz and I am a second year Agricultural Science major with a desire to minor in Equine Studies. This is my first year as an Ag Ambassador and am the Secretary for the 2021-2022 school year. I am ecstatic to be serving future and current students in a multitude of ways through outreach, one on one meetings, and provided campus tours. I grew up local to CPP and spent my summers in Northern New Mexico which exposed me to Agriculture and the important role it plays in our society. In addition, I worked with horses throughout high school and currently work at the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center at CPP. The horse center has allowed me to grow and enhance my horsemanship skills and confirmed my desire to work with them in my career. I am excited to bring my knowledge of being an Ag Ambassador and working at the horse center together to further help students succeed in all their endeavors!
Angelica Abril
Major: Agriculture Science
Year in School: Senior
Email: aabril@cpp.edu
Hi! My name is Angelica Abril and I am currently a fourth year Agricultural Science major with an emphasis in Animal Science. Coming to Cal Poly from a very small border town in the Imperial Valley has to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. Getting involved and becoming an Ag Ambassador has helped shape and polish skills that I know I can later incorporate into my future career. As of now, I want to join the credential program to become an Ag Science and Animal Science teacher at a post-secondary level, but I am still looking at other options. I am currently working at a small animal veterinary clinic, and seeing all sides of this industry have really helped me see what careers I could potentially go into. The agriculture science major opens up so many different paths and opportunities, which is why I love it. This is my second year as an Ag Ambassador, and I love going out (virtually) and sharing my love for CPP and its amazing opportunities, specifically within the agriculture industry. I am so excited for my last year here!
Jacqueline Thach
Major: Food Science & Technology
Year in School: Junior
Email: jtthach@cpp.edu
My name is Jacqueline Thach and I will be your Ag Ambassador for the 2021-22 year for the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture. I am a Food Science & Technology major at Cal Poly Pomona, with minors in Culinology® and Plant-based Nutrition, and I aspire to become a Food Product Developer to make delicious food products and eventually develop my own food product line.Outside my career goals, I love to cook, bake, and participate in many agricultural-related activities. In fact, I use the produce I pick from farms to bake/cook something out of it and one day I hope to develop my pastry-making skills on a professional level. I'm super ecstatic to work with everyone as an Ag Ambassador and create wonderful future experiences to come this year!
Stacy Montoya-Chavez
Major: Plant Science
Year in School: Senior
Email: spm@cpp.edu
Hello! My name is Stacy. I am a current transfer student majoring in Plant Science. Since being at CPP I have learned that Plant Science offers many different jobs to choose from. I still have yet to narrow down my choices but I am excited to dive into it now that I am at a hands-on university.
I have definitely enjoyed my first year at CPP and I hope you will too. I definitely feel that I belong here and that motivates me to try my best. The faculty, staff, and professors in the Don B. Huntley College of Ag have been honest, welcoming and understanding.
I transferred in the Fall right after the pandemic hit. It was a struggle to get situated with online classes, especially since a lot of these classes involve hands-on experiments in labs. I was able to still feel like I belonged by joining clubs and organizations on campus that focused on student success and equality. I am very glad with my choice to go to Pomona to finish my bachelor's degree.
After graduation, I am leaning towards research and community outreach to be able to teach urban gardening techniques and soil maintenance to those in my community. I believe working together to progress as a society is the best way to tackle anything. Get the opinions and viewpoints of others and work on understanding each other instead of working against each other. We are all on this one planet, so we need to do our part to preserve it.
Cal Poly Pomona has a lot to offer its students. As an Ag Ambassador I get the opportunity to show students first-hand experiences and answer questions that would not be found on the school’s website.
Hope Figueroa
Major: Nutrition Science
Year in School: Junior
Email: hefigueroa@cpp.edu
Hello, my name is Hope Figueroa and I am a third-year Nutrition Science major with an emphasis on Pre-Professional. I chose the Pre-Professional emphasis for Nutrition Science because I hope to attend nursing school after I graduate from Cal Poly Pomona. Cal Poly Pomona is filled with hardworking professors and life-changing opportunities. Two of my favorite places on campus are the BRIC and the Cal Poly Bookstore. Choosing to further my education at Cal Poly Pomona was the best decision I made. At first, I struggled with adapting to a whole new lifestyle in college, but once I put myself out there on campus and learned about the different volunteer opportunities and clubs I knew I made the right choice picking Cal Poly Pomona. As a first-year Ag Ambassador, I am looking forward to helping students figure out what they would like to do in the future! My goal is to encourage students to follow their dreams and know that anything is possible! I hope to develop my communication skills and interpersonal skills as an Ag Ambassador. I would like to build more connections with students and motivating the younger generations about college.
Rachel Murphy
Major: Nutrition, Dietitics
Year in School: Senior
Email: rlmurphy@cpp.edu
My name is Rachel, and I am in my fourth year at Cal Poly Pomona majoring in nutrition with an emphasis on dietetics. I have been absolutely in love with CPP ever since I decided to attend and have grown confident in myself and my education over these past years. My number one career goal is to work as a registered dietitian for a sports team. However, I absolutely love the world of nutrition and am open to all possibilities!
Along with being an Ag Ambassador, I am currently a member of the CPP Food and Nutrition Forum and work as a Peer Health Educator at the Bronco Wellness Center. Some of my hobbies include working out, baking, cooking, and singing in the car. One of the best parts about being a Bronco is that I continue to grow in many aspects of life, whether it be professional, creative, social, etc., while staying unique and true to myself. I am beyond thrilled to be an Ag Ambassador and share how truly remarkable the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture and CPP are to prospective students!
