July 11, 2025

PFS 2025: Week 4 Highlights

Dear PFS Community,

As we wrap up Week 4 of our 35th summer, we continue to be inspired by the joy, curiosity, and energy our Scholars bring to every classroom and campus. In addition to the rich learning happening across sites, this week was filled with powerful moments of connection, community, and inspiration.

I’d like to dedicate today’s letter to our incredible PFS alumni—especially those who joined us for Alumni Day. It was truly extraordinary to reconnect with so many former students who generously shared their wisdom and encouragement with our current Scholars. Our keynote speaker, Vincent Ton (Class of 2019), reminded us, “PFS is here, always rooting for its Scholars. We are rooting for you, and we will root for you well beyond your time as a student.”

Nothing could be more true. I see this every day across our campuses—in the care and passion of our teachers, the kindness and dedication of our interns, and the steady leadership of our site directors. Today, we were honored to welcome over 40 alumni, representing graduating classes from 2005 to 2024. It was a vibrant celebration of the power of connection: Scholars and alumni exchanging stories and advice, alumni reconnecting with one another, former interns reuniting with students they once mentored (and even recreating old photo memories), and new relationships forming as students and alumni exchanged contact information to stay in touch.

The magic of PFS was alive in every hug, every conversation, and every smile. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in our community—our Scholars, our teachers, our interns, our Site Director Ms. Oregón, our Administrative Assistant Berenice Melgoza, and, of course, our extraordinary alumni who continue to carry PFS with them and return, eager to inspire and uplift the next generation.

It was, without question, one of the most meaningful and moving days I’ve had the honor to witness as Executive Director. It gave me time to reflect on the vision that Mike Babcock and Carmie Rodríguez set in motion 35 years ago—and the beautiful community we’ve nurtured and grown each summer since. PFS truly is a family of dedicated students and educators, and I wouldn’t want to spend my summers with any other group of people.

It’s hard to put the magic of PFS into words—you truly have to experience it to understand it. Spending just one day at one of our sites makes it clear: the depth of care and connection our teachers, interns, and alumni offer is extraordinary. In a world that often feels divided and uncertain, Alumni Day reminded us of the power of hope, shared purpose, and the importance of lifting one another up. What an incredible day!

In addition to the joy of Alumni Day, each of our sites experienced special moments this week—many of which are highlighted in your site-specific newsletters. Here are just a few of my favorite moments from Week 4:

At Poly, our Scholars had the privilege of hearing from Dr. Christina Yeon, a highly respected oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope. With more than two decades of service in Pasadena and a deep commitment to clinical research and breast cancer care, Dr. Yeon encouraged our students to pursue careers rooted in purpose and passion. One of the most touching moments of her visit was hearing a PFS teacher in the audience share how their own life had been positively impacted by Dr. Yeon’s care.

We also had the honor of hosting a powerful panel from Ernst & Young (EY)—featuring Rachel Wee, Brian Huang, Blanca Sequeira, Andro Sotto, and Liz Israelian—who shared their professional journeys in business and finance. Their insights on motivation, networking, and personal branding helped our Scholars imagine their own future paths and what it takes to thrive in a competitive world.

At Westridge, Scholars participated in an energizing Career Day featuring professionals from diverse industries. We welcomed Ileia Gibbs, a former PFS intern and current pre-veterinary student studying animal science; Janet Wu, a longtime JPL engineer in the field of deep space optical communications; Lorena Yepez Hernández, a public affairs and community engagement professional at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration and a local nonprofit leader; and Dr. Melanie Arias, Upper School Director at Westridge. Each speaker offered insight on resilience, lifelong learning, and the many paths that success can take—sparking curiosity and confidence in our Scholars.

At Mayfield Junior School, our 8th grade Scholars had the extraordinary opportunity to welcome Dr. Khaja Shameem Mohammed Abdul from the Huntington Medical Research Institute (HMRI) along with a group of undergraduates. Together, they led a hands-on brain dissection workshop that left a lasting impression. It was a rare and exciting opportunity for students to explore neuroscience and engage directly with experts in the field. We are deeply grateful to HMRI for making this experience possible!

From alumni reunions to professional insights and hands-on discovery, Week 4 truly captured the heart of PFS: belonging, ambition, and community.

As we head into our final week, we look forward to celebrating all that our Scholars have accomplished at Family Night, hosted at each site. Thank you for walking this journey with us. Your continued support is what makes all of this possible.

Be sure to check out the site-specific highlights below and follow along with more of our summer adventures on Instagram: @pfspasadena

With warmth and gratitude,

Dr. Jessica Pérez del Toro
Executive Director

Chandler Highlights

Scholars created films about the Hammurabi Code in history class, explored chemical inputs during Science, created custom pillows during electives, played baseball during PE, and finished the Hero’s Journey in literature.

Westridge Highlights

Scholars were inspired to dream big at our Career Day luncheon, where four remarkable women—from education and engineering to public service and veterinary work—shared their journeys, life lessons, and career passions.

Mayfield Highlights

Scholars wrapped up exciting projects and enjoyed an exhilarating Friday with a 7th grade trip with the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy for a day of service and land restoration, while 8th grade explored heart dissection with HMRI.

Poly Highlights

What an inspiring week of career exploration and connection! From dynamic guest speakers to impactful visits to CMC and the Museum of Tolerance to an extraordinary Alumni Day, students gained real-world insight.