Meet the Orientation Leaders

Hello, my name is Enrique Suarez. I was born in Palo Alto and raised in Redwood City my entire life, before my family moved to Ceres not so long ago. I am a transfer student from San Jose State University; my major is Geology & Environmental Resources with a concentration in Environmental Resources. The reason why I chose Stanislaus State is that once I stepped onto the campus, the first thing I noticed was how open and green the campus is. I would describe it as “a breath of fresh air.” My favorite memory at Stan State so far has to be the time I got hissed and chased by the geese on campus. As long as you keep your distance, you should be fine.

As a first-generation student, I can say there will be a lot of challenges you will encounter while attending college, so it’s great to form your own communities in case you need any support. This applies to your professors, mentors, and other Stan State students. The campus offers a lot of opportunities, so don’t feel afraid to ask around. I’m still new to the campus myself, so that’s why I applied to become an Orientation Leader. It’s something I wish I had a chance to do at my previous university, but never got around to it. This is just the start of my journey at Stan State, and once the semester begins, I hope you all do the same with getting to know the campus. Time passes by very fast when you are in college, so make sure you make the best of it.

Hi, my name is Gabby and I'm from Modesto. I decided to attend Stanislaus State because it is local, and I liked how it is on the smaller side, so it lets me take full advantage of my college experience. I am a first-generation student and with that I understand the struggles that often come with. Quick advice: Stan State has so many resources available to its students, and it is completely okay to take advantage of them!

During my time at Stan, I have had the opportunity to be involved on campus through student organizations such as Phi Sigma Sigma, and through TRIO- a student support program. In my free time, I love to learn new DIY skills, read books and be out in nature. One piece of advice that has helped me through college is to take advantage of any opportunity. You never know where the opportunities may lead to, and with that note it is also completely okay to ask for help. Your experience at Stan State is all about what you make it!

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Isaiah Sanchez. I am from Ceres and I graduated from Central Valley High School. I decided to attend Stan State because of its sustainability and friendly community on campus. It also made it easier to maintain my education as well as keeping my family close to me. If you spent a weekend with me, you would find that I love making music, reading, binge watching shows and cooking up new recipes.

One of my favorite memories at Stan state is the movie nights, homecoming games, and warrior days we have had in the past. A piece of advice I can give students is to involve themselves with the people around them. Coming from a first gen student, use the resources that the school gives to students, take advantage of every opportunity that will help you grow as a person and better your career.

Hi, my name is Jayden Betbabanta!

I’m a first-generation college student majoring in Business Finance with a minor in Biology. Born and raised in Turlock, I chose Stanislaus State because it’s local, affordable, and already familiar to me. Outside of academics, I enjoy fishing, hunting, sports, and gambling. On campus, I’m involved in the Assyrian Club, WEI Group, Theta Chi Fraternity, and I work at the Fab Lab, which has been a great way to gain hands-on experience and meet new people.

One of my favorite memories at Stan State is participating in Warrior Wednesday and enjoying free food from the ASI booth. For new students, my advice is to get involved; join clubs, leadership programs, and Greek life if it interests you. Build connections and make the most of every opportunity to create an unforgettable college experience it'll only be as good as you wish to make it.

Hey everyone! My name is Jessica, and I’m from Modesto, California. I chose Stan State to stay close to the community I grew up in and to pursue my major in Communication Studies. I’m also proud to be involved with New Student Orientation, one of the best ways to connect with campus life! One of my favorite Stan State memories is meeting my closest friends, it truly made my college experience unforgettable.

I can confidently say that choosing Stan State has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I think you’ll feel the same! In my free time, I love exercising, baking, reading, and spending quality time with friends and family. My advice to new students is to get involved! Joining campus activities is the best way to make new connections and feel at home here.

Can’t wait to see you around! 

Hi everyone! My name is Juliette. I am from Los Banos, California. I decided to come to Stan State because of the beautiful campus and how close it is to home. My favorite memory at Stan State is meeting my boyfriend.

I am a first-generation student! On campus, my favorite class I have taken has been human anatomy. A piece of advice I would like to give is to use your resources that are given on campus. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and boyfriend. I also like to spend time with my fur babies!

My name is Kimberly & I am a 4th year Psychology major. I decided to attend Stan State because I’ve always liked the campus since I toured it when I was a sophomore in high school. I love the community & the opportunities that I’ve gotten attending this school. I am the Student Center Leadership Student Assistant & I am also in Alpha Xi Delta. In my free time, I like to hang out with my friends & watch tv shows. My favorite class so far is probably Intro to Social Psychology.

Hello, my name is Manny Delgadillo, and I'm from Turlock, California, born and raised. The reason I chose to attend Stanislaus State was because the community is really welcoming, and also it was close to home. I am involved in Greek life on campus (Theta Chi) and am on the ASI Board of Directors -- I served as the ASI Director for the College of Business Administration. My favorite part of attending Stanislaus State has to be Warrior Day. Warrior Day is a nice time to not think about any classes and tests, you can focus on just having fun with all of your friends.

Hi! My name is Melanie Ovrahim, I am now a third year Biology major. I am from Turlock, CA and chose to come to Stan State due to the proximity to my friends and family. I am apart of the SC board of directors and an officer in the Assyrian Club on campus. I love to go on walks and travel with my friends. 

Advice I would give to new students would have to be to enjoy life on campus. Make sure to stay before or after your classes to enjoy all the fun activities the campus has. This is a great way to make great connections with other classmates and make new friends.

My name is Natalie Sanchez, I am from Hughson, California, which is located about 10-13 minutes from Turlock. I decided to attend Stanislaus State because it was close to home and I wouldn’t be far from my loved ones and has such a diverse and beautiful community. My favorite memory as of right now would probably have to be NSO for me. I chose NSO because that is when I met my now best friends and was able to establish such great friendships and meet new people, and being able to connect. Advice I have for new students is that, although you may be feeling a whole ton of emotions, you’re not alone.

Everyone else is feeling the same way; they’re just expressing it differently. Everything will be okay, no matter what the circumstances may be. I am a first-generation student. During my free time, I like to hang out on campus with friends at the student center, go to the gym, or go out and do non-school-related activities such as shopping, traveling, and spending time with my family. My hobbies are working out, watching soccer, shopping, and traveling. My favorite class I have taken is SPAN 3010 or any class taken with Rob Sledge.

Hi! My name is Priscilla Morales and I’m from Gustine, California but I stay in Turlock! The reason I chose Stan State was due to the welcoming environment they bring to the campus. Currently I’m involved in the sociology club and the photography club. My favorite memory at Stan State is definitely Warrior Day which they have different activities and performers . I’m a first generation student and the advice I would give would be get involved! You meet so many people and it makes the experience even more great. What I do on my free time is go to the gym, photography, and hang out with friends. My favorite class I have taken was Badminton. Definitely has made me love the sport even more.

I am a tattooist and have the experience of more than seven years; it is one of my biggest interests. It is somehow very alluring that after painting what a person sees or recalls on their body, they will have it tattooed on there forever so as to create an avenue of expression they can never be tired of. I also hold a truck driving job at Amazon besides tattooing, so I have a practical career mixed with the orderly cycle of shipping and transportation. Becoming a mother to active and inquisitive 3-year-old son, however, is one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life because he makes me busy and laugh all the time through his activities and questions.

Sci-fi shows and movies are my favorite past time when I am not working or parenting because I am always drawn to programs that have a good futuristically bend or out of this world plot like movie. I am a big Disney enthusiast as well; the magic and nostalgia is always a mood booster of sort. Although I am most certainly a homebody, I like to go out once in a while now to refresh and have something new to encounter. In addition, be it a nice movie night or a rare gathering, I attempt to set the scale in the small moments of pleasure.