The small group (cohort) and peer mentoring experience is a major part of the Connections Project and starts on the first day of orientation when you will meet with your group and your upperclass mentor for the first time. From this point on your cohort will be an important part of your HNU experience and your Peer Mentor will serve as an essential resource throughout your first year of college.

More Information about cohorts and mentoring

Year: Junior

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Los Angeles

I have lived in Martinez, CA, located in the Bay Area, my whole life.  Since I live in the Bay Area my favorite things to do is to visit my family and friends, and with my friends I like going to the movies and to San Francisco.  For vacations my family and I travel to Mexico to the states of Michoacán and Jalisco; and in the United States to the cities and region of Washington D.C, Los Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, and South California.  I would love to go to other cities in the United States, to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South and Central America.  Since I am fond of traveling I love to eat many different styles of food such as Mexican, Central American, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Middle Eastern.  Another thing I like to do is watch the television shows like Gilmore Girls, Grey’s Anatomy, El Clon, One Tree Hill, CSI: Miami, New York, Los Vegas, and Cold Case. I am going to enter my second year in Holy Names University to study International Business.  If I would give any suggestions on how to have a successful first year at HNU it would be to always know that this is a beginning of a lot of fun new and exciting things, so know your priorities, have fun, and learn what you love to do.

My name is Ericka Duke and I am a returning third year student (Junior) here at Holy Names University. I am a Business Communications major and an aspiring talk show host. I am from Sacramento, California born and raised, when I was younger my family and I moved to Seattle, Washington for four years. Throughout my few years at HNU I’ve had the chance to visit many beautiful inspiring places. I would have to say the Bay Area is full of life long experiences and places which will leave a lasting memory and impression on your life. I also had the opportunity to visit Tutwiler, Mississippi, where I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity building homes and making lasting impressions amongst those in the community.

I have not had the opportunity to travel all over the world, however, I do plan to try to visit every state and move to a country in West Africa once I graduate from graduate school. Along with traveling and gaining knowledge from various experiences. Food has become a major factor in my life. My last few years attending HNU I developed the true meaning of appreciating your mother’s “Home cooked meal.” There are great restaurants throughout the Bay Area. I’m a fan of Mexican food, so I am constantly going down the hill from the school to Gualahara, a Mexican tradition restaurant serving the best burritos throughout Oakland.

Transitioning into college is like stepping into another world. These are the four years of your life when you are gaining your independence. In addition to gaining your independence, there will be obstacles which may come your way. These may cause you to get off track, but rest assured HNU provide many services supporting those in need. However in order to have a blissful first year experience I would suggest appreciating the little things you do have. Do not take your education for granted, and do not be afraid to speak up. “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” That’s how I made it thus far. And I am proud to be a Hawk.

Year: Junior

Major: Business

Hometown: Santa Ana, CA

Nickname: Junie
Hometown: Oakland, California, United States
Favorite bay area activity: Looking at the view from the top of the Oakland hills
Places I have traveled: All over California, because when my family goes on vacation they would rather stay in California and visit everything. I have driven down to Mexico, to the states of Jalisco and the Federal District of Mexico (Mexico City)
Places I want to travel: Europe, India, Japan
Favorite food: Sushi           
Favorite TV show: CSI: Las Vegas

Suggestion for how to have a successful first year at HNU: Give your best (not necessarily your all) into life because rewards are never immediate.

My name is Sonal Gandhi and I am from Hayward, California. I am a nursing major at HNU and I hope to work in Oncology when I graduate. My favorite T.V. shows are House and Gilmore Girls and I also like watching foreign films. My favorite place to hang out in the Bay Area is Golden Gate Park and I love going to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk during the summer. To have a great first year at Holy Names, I would suggest just trying your best and facing everything with a positive attitude. Try to get involved in the community and you will find yourself enjoying every part of your college experience.

Name: Libby Hogan
Year: Senior
Major: Business Marketing, Management, and Sports Management
When I grow up...:I want to run a non-profit organization
Home town: Alta Loma, CA
Favorite Bay Area Activity: Alcatraz
Travel: I have been to Italy and Germany, but would love to travel and explore the world!
Favorite food: Italian is my absolute favorite but I enjoy trying new things

First Year Success Tip: Go to class and make connections with the professor and the other students--it makes going to class both more fun and more beneficial.

My name is Gavin Kaneshiro and I am a second year English major from Waipahu, Hawaii.  Writing is my passion, conversation is my favorite pastime, and taiko runs through my veins.  I love classic films, and movies in general, my favorite being “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” from 1953, starring Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe.  Nothing beats a good movie with good friends, and good food.  I must admit that I am indeed a Gleek, but I also thoroughly enjoy NCIS and reruns of I Love Lucy and The Nanny.  Ice cream is one of the few things I can never turn down, and I’m a major sucker for a good run.  My favorite Bay Area activity is visiting Japantown in San Francisco because it reminds me of our various festivals back home, but simply walking around any given area of the city and taking in the atmosphere brings great satisfaction.  The best suggestion I can give for making the most of your freshman year at HNU is to participate as much as possible in both on and off campus activities.  These events are the perfect opportunity to have some fun, meet new people, and even discover a little more about your self.

Year: Sophomore
Major: Business Management / Minor: Music
Hometown: South Korea
My favorite bay area activities: Walking on Golden Gage Bridge and Golden Gage Park, going to San Francisco Chinatown and Japan town, Fisherman’s Wharf, and shopping on Union Square.
Places I have traveled: US, Japan, China, Switzerland, Germany and more..
Places I would like to travel to: Everywhere ! Because I love to travel. But these days I would love to visit Finland, Sweden, and Norway.
Favorite foods: Korean food, Japanese food (Sushi), Pasta,Sea food, Fondue.
Favorite television shows: Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, The Hills, The City

Suggestion for how to have a successful first year at HNU: You need to exhibit responsibility for yourself and your actions.

My name is Tyler Kawaguchi and I am from Fremont California.  I am a sophomore and my major is psychology.  I am a hard working and dedicated person that will not give up.  My favorite thing to do in the Bay Area is to eat Japanese food in San Jose.  My advice for succeeding during freshman year is to try many different things on campus.  You will never know what you like until you try and experience it.

Year: Junior

Major: Business

Hometown: Figi

Year: Sophomore

Major: Undecided

Hometown: San Jose, CA

Major: Business Communications
Hometown: Upton, MA,"voted the most boring town in MA". However, I commute between there and Half Moon Bay, CA
Favorite bay area activities: driving down the coast, or in the city with my friends goofing off, learning about Bay Area history, going to the SF Ballet, going to museums, trying new restaurants, and meeting locals!
Places I have traveled to include: all of New England, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, and Hawaii. I'm planning on going to Italy, Sweden, France, and Fiji within the next few years!
Favorite foods: a real Italian grinder, or "sandwhich" complete with prosciutto, coppa, mortadella, and provolone, and of course my Mom's meatballs, because they are so much better than my Dad's. My favorite all time drink would be a Dunkin Donuts ice coffee-regular.
Favorite television shows: The Real Housewives of New Jersey and The Real Housewives of New York, Law and Order, The Brotherhood, and How I Met Your Mother.

My best advice for having a successful first year at HNU is that you need to try things, and always use your best effort. Go ahead and make mistakes, but learn from them! And of course, dance! You need to enjoy yourself, and not always take everything so seriously. Life is short, but your freshman year is the shortest year!

Hi everyone! my name is Roxy Smith and I am junior here and a double major in Psychology and Religious Studies! I'm also working on a certificate program in Drug and Alcohol Studies. I am from San Jose, CA so not too far but far enough where mom and dad don't visit all the time. I love it here in the Bay Area. One of my favorite places to go is San Francisco to go shopping. I also love to go watch the football, arena football or hockey games! Being in the Bay Area there are a variety of ethnic foods around here. My thing to go get is a burrito from one of the local taco trucks or a smoothie from Juice Appeal in the Montclair District. I don't get much time to watch tv but when I do I can't resist any reality TV show. We are looking forward to having you as part of our HNU community and its okay to be nervous but we have all been in your shoes and so if you have any questions are concerns just ask!

Name: Jordynn Thornton
Hometown: Inglewood, CA
Class: Sophomore
Major: Multimedia Art’s Communication Study
Favorite Bay Area Activity: Going to the movies in Emeryville
Places I have traveled to: New York, North Carolina, Texas
Favorite Food: Meatloaf
Favorite Show: Secret Life of an American Teenager

How to have a successful year at HNU: Get with a partner or a study group

My name is Patrick Turner, I'm a marketing major going into my fourth year here at Holy Names University. I'm from a small town in Northern California, Fort Bragg. I'm a member of the Men's Basketball team here at Holy Names, I like the diversity of the bay area, with so many different options of things for you to do. I love Italian and Mexican food. Some of my favorite T.V. shows are: Entourage, The Office and Scrubs. My suggestion to a successful first year at HNU would to be step outside your comfort zone, get involved and meet new people!