As the school year winds down, excitement fills the halls of Ojai Valley School as seniors finalize their college commitments. After months of submitting applications, writing essays, and waiting with anticipation, students are proudly announcing their plans for the future. Among the first to share their decisions are seniors Joey Edelson, Scout Mortenson, and Ben Scordamaglia, each heading off to their school of choice.
Joey Edelson has officially committed to Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, where he will study business and economics. Known for its strong business programs and vibrant campus life, SMU stood out to Joey from the start.
“I wanted a school that had a good mix of academics and social life, and SMU felt like the right fit,” Joey said. “The application process was stressful at times, especially writing the essays, because I procrastinated it, but I’m really happy with how it all turned out.”
Despite initial uncertainty about college, Joey found the right school for him. SMU changed his perspective on college, and now he is ready to be a Mustang this fall.
“Honestly, last year I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to go to college,” he shared. “But after seeing SMU and learning more about it, it just clicked. Shortly after I committed, my best friend committed too, and we’re going to be roommates next year, which makes it so much better.”
Balancing college applications with academics and extracurriculars wasn’t easy, but Joey credits early planning and support from college counselor, Fred Alvarez, for his success. On top of academic work, Joey is the captain of the basketball team.
“I started my Common App essay junior year during college counseling and worked on it over the summer,” he explained. “That gave me a big head start. My advice for juniors is to start early and just be real in your writing. Mr. Alvarez always stressed keeping your writing authentic in applications, and Colleges want to know who you are, not just your stats. It’s not all about your grades or clubs, but also about you as a person.”
Ben Scordamaglia has also finalized his college decision and will attend the University of California, Berkeley, in the fall, where he plans to major in business with a concentration in finance.
Ben had no shortage of options, with his impressive list of acceptances including Carnegie Mellon University, UCLA, USC, West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy, the University of Florida, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“For me, Berkeley was the perfect mix of academics and opportunity,” Ben said
Although narrowing down his choices wasn’t easy, Ben said his final decision came down to a matter of fit and future opportunities.
“There were so many amazing schools to choose from, but Berkeley felt like the right place for me to grow, both personally and professionally,” he said.
Ben shared that while the application process was overwhelming, it was ultimately rewarding.
“There were times I felt overwhelmed, especially with all the essays and deadlines,” he admitted. “But once I got into a rhythm and finished all my applications, I was beyond relieved. Receiving acceptances made it all worth it.”
Scout Mortenson, who will be attending the University of Colorado Boulder and majoring in communications, also reflected on her journey.
“I visited CU Boulder and just fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere,” Scout said. “It has a great program for communications, and I could really see myself growing there both academically and personally.”
An avid equestrian, Scout is also excited to continue her passion for riding.
“I’m really excited to be in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) club and continue my riding journey in college,” she explained. “The barn is about 30 minutes from campus, and while the school doesn’t fund the program, the team is made up of CU Boulder students, and we compete against other intercollegiate teams.”
For Scout, the process was not just about getting into college but also discovering who she is and what she wants in her own life
“It’s a lot of work, and there were definitely moments of doubt, but I learned so much about myself during the process,” she said. “In the end, I chose a place where I know I’ll be happy and supported.”
OVS senior Ava Williams will also be attending the University of Colorado Boulder, majoring in Psychology, and plans to room with Scout this fall.
As the Class of 2025 prepares to close this chapter and start a new one, the decisions of students like Joey, Ben, and Scout highlight not just where they’re headed, but the hard work and growth that got them there.