08/20/2026
Let’s take a look back at PFS Summer 2026 and one of the highlights of the PFS journey!
For the 18th summer, our rising senior scholars at Poly () experienced college life during an overnight visit to Claremont McKenna College (), with a stop at the University of La Verne (). This special tradition is made possible through the extraordinary generosity and nearly two decades of support from CMC Trustee and former Board Chair David Mgrublian ’82 and his wife, Margaret.
Staying overnight in the residence halls, dining on campus, and exploring the Claremont Colleges gives our scholars a firsthand look at college life as they begin making important decisions about their own college journeys.
A highlight is the Case Studies exercise, where scholars step into the role of college admission officers. Working together, they review mock applications and decide whether to admit, deny, or waitlist applicants based on academic performance and extracurricular involvement. The exercise gives scholars valuable insight into the holistic college admission process and the factors colleges consider when building a class.
This year brought an especially meaningful full-circle moment: the Case Studies exercise was led in part by PFS alumna Mu Hwa Nagata, who first experienced the CMC overnight as a PFS scholar, later returned as a PFS intern, and today works as an admission officer at Claremont McKenna College!
We are thrilled that Claremont McKenna College recently featured PFS and this longstanding partnership in “Pathways to possibility: High school students get a glimpse of CMC.” The story beautifully captures the impact this experience has had on generations of PFS scholars—and how relationships like these help young people see new possibilities for their futures.
Thank you to David and Margaret Mgrublian, Claremont McKenna College, the admissions officers and deans across the Claremont Colleges, and the University of La Verne for welcoming our scholars and sharing your time, expertise, and encouragement!
