CMC Parent Newsletter - Winter 2025

In this Issue

All Summer Sunshine: Family Weekend 2025

Why Should My Student Apply for a Fellowship?

CMC Expands with the Roberts Campus Sports Bowl

Gratitude Day is Almost Here – March 26th!

Top Five Things I Miss: Students Share What They Miss from Home!

Ceremonia de Graduación 2025: Una Guía para Padres

Commencement 2025: A Guide for Parents

All Summer  Sunshine: Family Weekend 2025 

By Melanie J. Malinowski P'27, Ph.D.

The joke in our family is, whenever Andy comes to California, it rains. Andy is my husband, and last year for Family Weekend, it rained, poured!  I remember walking through campus with an umbrella we took a trip to Target to buy and the cuffs of my jeans soaking up to my knee with rain. So odd. So unexpected. So NOT California dreaming. This year, however, we received all of that gorgeous temperate summer sunshine we lack in humid Houston: every day shone bright and warm with lovely sunsets and the vibrant sounds of happy students—eating, sipping coffee, laughing, their books and computers open on tables and lawns. This, to me, signifies Family Weekend, for don’t we all, as parents, want to see our children thriving, content in their studies and their new homes?

Claremont McKenna engages parents in the same way it engages our students - with organized activities, talks and instruction, ambient absorption of culture, and people and the feel of attending a liberal arts college in Southern California. We were offered broad stroked sessions such as Town Hall Meeting and Q&A with President Hiram Chodosh or more niche sessions like Leadership Around the World: Discovering the Center for Global Education. Andy and I sat in on the Study Abroad session, and as is notable of all CMC events, the room was immaculate and organized, and the speakers, knowledgeable. What I appreciated specifically in this session was the student panel. Each student provided so much detail about his/her unique experience abroad, and I came away with a clearer picture of how the program operates, the opportunities available, and how individual students responded to the experience of living and learning abroad. Ursula Diamond, Director of Student Opportunities, delivered an amazing session entitled Summer Success: Internships and More. We learned not only the important timelines our daughter should be following for summer success but also the generous stipends available and how our daughter and other young students can attain them.

The Hospitality Welcome Center, full of yummy cookies, muffins, and fruit, coffee, tea, and water, and the Stag and Athena mascots highlight the weekend, for their ubiquitous presence anchor the experience for me. I’m a sucker for abundant joy, loud music, and free carnival food, so I loved the Family Meet and Greet in front of Roberts. I met new families, caught up with familiar friends, and recognized our good fortune to be surrounded by so much activity under the blue sky and the cozy sun.  Our daughter, Echo, an Athena soccer player, rocked up fresh from a run to meet up with us, and we ate popcorn and soft pretzels and took family photos in front of the giant CMC sign. We met a parent from Santa Barbara who spoke to Echo, asking her important questions and interested in her responses. This moment, I thought, is a microcosmic crucible of what our daughter—and all CMC students—live: people genuinely and deeply interested in what our children have to say, who they are, and their futures.

Although we did not attend any of the sessions on leadership, we talked with parents at Donuts with the Deans on Saturday morning, a nice foray into the weekend. If you have not met Jimmy Doan, Dean of Students, yet, make it a point to do so. We also watched the CMC women’s rugby team, Claremont Foxes, playing a match against UCLA, rummaged through jerseys in Roberts at the CMS rummage sale for our daughter’s soccer number (28!), ate a vegan lunch at Collins, and strolled to Dr. Chodosh’s house for a reception, where we played with Theo and talked with a couple from Seattle. We were honored to speak to students at the Help Students Jumpstart Their Future! Student/Parent Networking Event in Gann Quadrangle, a must-see event and one where parents can share their expertise with students.

One of the most meaningful events for our family was A Family Affair: Student-Parent Dinner and Show at the Athenaeum. If you do nothing else during Family Weekend, please prioritize registering early for a night at The Ath. On this particular Saturday, Ava Kopp, the president of the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College, spoke, introducing performers and warmly inviting us to share in an evening at the beautiful Athenaeum, a place where our children eat, learn, grow. Dressed in unplanned pink attire, Echo, Andy, and I enjoyed delicious food while listening to a singer, a pianist, and the acapella group After School Specials. My eyes teared from the emotionality of sharing this almost sacred space with other parents, students, talent.

We stayed through Monday in order to attend classes open for visitors. As lifelong learners, my husband and I appreciate the invitation to join students and to experience a Claremont McKenna lecture. Dr. Kreines’ “History of Buddhist Philosophy,” held in a lovely room in Kravis, a room of windows and campus views, captivated me, for Dr. Kreines’ energy motivated me to want to answer questions on material I had not learned. The students seemed to author the lecture, providing insights and directing comments as the professor facilitated, inquired, and listened. We also sat in on Dr. Connelly’s “Introduction to Film,” a cool course incorporating lecture, discussion, and precise film clips. Fortified and thrumming with verve, Andy and I met our daughter at the Ath for afternoon tea and vegan treats, enjoying the last of the sun and the final hours of the weekend. 

Because we are fortunate, we concluded our time on campus by sitting with our daughter at Collins then walking her to soccer practice. We sat in the stands, a little chilly, a little sad to be saying goodbye, and watched her and her teammates take the field, their joy and laughter, camaraderie and support, followed us as we waved to her from the sidelines, then the sidewalk, and finally the street as we headed home. 

Why Should My Student Apply for a Fellowship?

By Arti Kumar P'27

Students at CMC have many amazing opportunities as part of the education journey. One of the lesser known is fellowships. Those who apply for fellowships enhance their academic, professional, and personal development, allowing the recipients to travel across the world, immerse themselves in a research topic of their choice, or explore public service. The Office of Fellowships offers support and walks them through the rigorous application process. In the past, many CMCers have been award Fulbright’s, Marshall’s, Gates-Cambridge scholarships. Most notably, in 2023, a graduating senior won the Rhodes Scholarship, which provides a recipient with a fully funded award to study at the University of Oxford. 

To find out more about the application and selection process, we interviewed the Assistant director of Fellowship Advising, Yi Shun Lai.

Q: How do you support students in their journey towards a fellowship, including guiding them in selecting opportunities where they are most likely to succeed?  

YS: Our office deals with fellowships that are external to CMC. Some names you might know are Truman, Rhodes, and Fulbright. CMCers have won all of these, and recently! There are so many more fellowships that align which each student’s academic discipline. Last academic year, we helped students to apply between 30 and 35 fellowships. The application process is about self-discovery and self-understanding. Whether they receive a fellowship or not, they always come through the process knowing so much more about themselves. They also develop communication and writing skills, as they need to communicate their values and ambitions concisely and authentically.

Q: With the great number of Fellowships available, how can you help students find the ones better aligned with their interests and goals?

YS: Over the past year I’ve met with over 200 students about their ambitions and goals—and, most importantly, their values. When we meet, I spend time getting to know what matters to them, and while I always have a few options for them to apply to right off the bat, I encourage and teach students to do some searching on their own for opportunities that might interest them, The process collaborative. Sometimes students come to me with opportunities that just aren’t right for them and that’s okay! My aim is to help students to understand which fellowships will suit them the best. I ultimately do this by having honest conversations about what matters to a student, what they want to do with their lives.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share that may be helpful to parents and students?

YS:  Sometimes, I meet students in the second half of their senior year. While it’s not too late to connect with our office (CMC students have access to my office even after they graduate, provided they’re not matriculated at another institution for grad school), this always makes me a little sad. I want to get to know them from their first year, because there are opportunities they can apply to right from their first year! And, I love to help them to plan their fellowships journey right from the very beginning. So please encourage your first- and second-year students to come see me. Applying to a fellowship—and the things you learn about yourself while you’re doing it--is a valuable experience that isn’t really replicated anywhere else on campus.

Yi Shun Lai is the Assistant Director of Fellowships Advising and may be contacted for via email (yishun.lai@claremontmckenna.edu) or phone (909) 607-0838. Students can make an appointment online.

CMC Expands with the Roberts Campus Sports Bowl

By Denise Stolte P'28

Image

Big things are happening at Claremont McKenna College—literally. The construction of the Roberts Campus Sports Bowl is officially underway, bringing state-of-the-art athletic facilities to a 75-acre site across Claremont Boulevard. If you visited during Family Weekend and noticed giant construction machines tearing up the ground, don’t worry—CMC isn’t digging for treasure. Instead, it's building a game-changing sports complex that will redefine the CMS (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps) Athletics program.

The development will take place in two phases, beginning with the south side of the site. This initial phase will feature a new baseball and softball field, a lacrosse/football field, a track and field competition venue, and a golf practice facility. The long-awaited baseball field is particularly exciting for the Claremont baseball community, which has been without a dedicated home since the original Bill Arce Field was repurposed for the Robert Day Sciences Center over two years ago. CMC and CMS are hopeful that if construction stays on schedule, the new baseball field will be ready to host its first games sometime in spring 2026, with the remaining venues anticipated to open in 2027.

The second phase of development will extend the complex further north, adding competition and multipurpose fields to support CMS varsity and club sports. This expansion will not only enhance CMC’s athletic infrastructure, but also create additional opportunities for campus development, including the potential for a new Economics building, upgraded dormitories, and additional classroom space.

The Roberts Campus Sports Bowl will retain the site’s natural bowl-like shape, creating an immersive arena-style atmosphere. Spectators will enjoy a variety of seating options, including shaded and sun-exposed stands, as well as tree-lined viewing areas around the perimeter. Beyond spectator accommodations, the facility will feature locker rooms, meeting spaces, and sports medicine services. Additionally, it will serve as the future home of CMC’s ROTC program.

Another major component of Phase One is a two-story parking structure and a 20-foot-wide pedestrian arcade, which will run beneath Claremont Boulevard, seamlessly connecting the Sports Bowl to the main campus.

The vision for the Roberts Campus Sports Bowl emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when CMC strategically acquired parcels of the previously undeveloped gravel pit across Claremont Boulevard. This project, made possible by a generous gift from CMC Trustee George Roberts ’66 P’93, marks a significant milestone for the college—not only doubling the campus footprint but also making it officially 12 acres larger than Pomona’s campus—not that anyone’s keeping score… The college continues to seek contributions, and naming opportunities for various facilities within the complex are available online; for more information, please contact Beth Milev @ bmilev@cmc.edu.

CMS Athletics Director Erica Jasper believes that the Roberts Campus Sports Bowl will set a new gold standard for Division III athletics nationwide. With its prime on-campus location and state-of-the-art design, the new complex is poised to rival many Division I facilities. "The Roberts Campus Sports Bowl is one of the most exciting projects I’ve had the privilege to be part of, and I’m thrilled that our exceptional scholar-leader-athletes will soon have the opportunity to train and compete in these state-of-the-art facilities," Jasper said.

With construction now in full swing, excitement is building among student-athletes, alumni, and the entire CMC community. As the campus grows, so too does the legacy of excellence, competition, and leadership that defines Claremont McKenna College and CMS Athletics.

Go Athenas and Stags!

Gratitude Day is Almost Here – March 26th

Did you know that tuition covers only 62% of a CMC education? The remaining 38% comes from the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends. Gifts to the Parents Fund are essential—they close the gap and help provide every student with the full CMC experience, from Sponsored Internships and Research Institutes to world-renowned speakers, Athletics, and comprehensive mentoring services at the Soll Center for Student Opportunity. On Gratitude Day—symbolically marking 62% of the academic year—let’s reflect on how our collective support enriches our students' lives.

Please consider making a gift to the Parents Fund in honor of your student. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a lasting impact and demonstrates the strength of our interconnected community.

Donate
 

Top Five Things I Miss: Students Share What They Miss from Home!

Image

Spring break is here and many students are heading off in different directions - some joining networking treks, others visiting exciting cities across the country, and some staying on campus to relax and recharge. Wherever they may be, one thing is certain—from time to time they think about what they miss most about home! Here's what a few of them had to say!

1. “The local park where my brother and I play soccer every weekend. ⚽️” – Ezra Menghesa ’28

2. “Taking my dog, Obi, on a walk around the neighborhood 🐕.” – Jack Farber ’26

3. “Having dinner with my grandparents on the weekend ❤️.” – Emily Montenegro ’28

4. “Having a kitchen where I can cook my own meals🍳.” – Miles Brodey ’26

5. “I miss my bed 🛌!” – Luc Fabing ’26

Ceremonia de Graduación 2025: Una Guía para Padres

Cuatro años pasan increíblemente rápido, especialmente desde la perspectiva de los padres. Con la graduación a solo unos meses, queremos brindarle información anticipada sobre este evento tan importante.

Fecha de la Ceremonia de Graduación
La 77ª ceremonia anual de graduación para la Clase de 2025 se llevará a cabo el sábado 17 de mayo de 2025 a las 2:00 p.m. (hora del Pacífico).

Eventos Claves Durante el Fin de Semana de Graduación

• Viernes 16 de mayo, 8:30 a.m. – Ensayo de Graduación (Solo Graduados)
• Viernes 16 de mayo, 4:00 p.m. – Recepción para Graduados, Familias y Amigos
• Sábado 17 de mayo, 10:30 a.m. – Brunch para Graduados y Familias en Collins Dining Hall. [Compre boletos aquí.]
• Sábado 17 de mayo, 12:00 p.m. – Apertura de Puertas para Asientos de la Ceremonia
• Sábado 17 de mayo, 4:00 p.m. – Recepción para Graduados, Familias y Amigos

Ubicación de la Ceremonia
Pritzlaff Field en el campus de CMC – Ver Mapa

Qué Esperar en la Ceremonia
Todos los familiares y amigos son bienvenidos—no se requieren boletos. La ceremonia suele durar aproximadamente dos horas e incluye un discurso de graduación y la entrega de diplomas.

Reservaciones de Hoteles y Restaurantes
Se recomienda a las familias y amigos hacer sus reservaciones lo antes posible. Encuentre alojamientos locales aquí. Planifique con anticipación y haga reservaciones en restaurantes para las celebraciones durante el fin de semana de graduación.

Transmisión en Vivo
La Ceremonia de Graduación será transmitida en vivo en el sitio web de CMC el día del evento.

Fotos Oficiales de la Graduación
Un fotógrafo profesional capturará imágenes de cada graduado recibiendo su diploma. Se enviará un enlace con estas fotos a los estudiantes por correo electrónico después de la ceremonia.

Dónde Encontrar Más Información
Visite el sitio web de Graduación de CMC para obtener más detalles. Si tiene alguna pregunta, envíe un correo electrónico a events@cmc.edu. 

¡Felicidades a la Clase de 2025!

Commencement 2025: A Guide for Parents

Four years goes by incredibly fast, especially from a parent’s perspective. We are just months away from commencement and we thought it might be helpful to provide you with some early information on this important event so you know what to expect.

Date of Commencement
The 77th annual commencement ceremony for the Class of 2025 will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific 

Some Key Events Surrounding Graduation Weekend

• Friday, May 16, 8:30 a.m. - Commencement Rehearsal (Graduates Only)
• Friday, May 16, 4:00 p.m. - Reception for Graduates, Families, and Friends
• Saturday, May 17, 10:30 a.m. – Brunch for Graduates and Families at Collins Dining Hall. Purchase tickets here.
• Saturday, May 17, 12:00 p.m. - Gates Open for Ceremony Seating
• Saturday, May 17, 4:00 p.m. – Reception for Graduates, Family, and Friends
   

Location for Commencement
Pritzlaff Field on the CMC Campus

What to Expect for the Ceremony
All family and friends are welcome to attend. There are no tickets issued. The commencement ceremony is normally two hours and will include a presentation by the commencement speaker and the awarding of degrees.

Make Hotel/Restaurant Reservations
CMC encourages families and friends to make plans ASAP if you have not already. Information regarding local accommodations can be found here. You are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and make reservations at local restaurants for individual graduation celebrations and meals during the commencement weekend. 

Live-stream Will be Available 
The Commencement Ceremony will be live-streamed on the cmc.edu website the day of the event.

Photos Will Be Taken
CMC has contracted for individual photos of each graduate receiving a diploma during the ceremony. A link containing these images will be sent to your student via email following the ceremony.

Where Can you Find Information?
For more information, please visit the CMC Commencement website here. If you have any questions, please email events@cmc.edu.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!