I love what I do. Having taught for over 12 years everywhere from tutoring institutions, to start-ups, to UC Berkeley, it’s always been my passion for students to realize that every student has the potential to achieve. In my free time I enjoy restoring classic cars and building electronics from scratch.

My name is Christopher Blackstone, and I primarily tutor chemistry. I received a PhD in chemistry from the University of Arizona, during which time I was promoted to Distinguished TA and won an award as the best TA in the department in 2018. I delight in crafting activities which connect the concept I’m teaching to real-world and relatable problems, and seeing a student have the “A-ha!” moment when a concept finally clicks. In my free time, I play slow-pitch softball, board games and video games, ultimate frisbee, cook and bake, and spend time with my wife and stepdaugther.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT I’m Cierra Lofthouse-Wolf, a recent graduate from California State University, Chico (Class of 2024), where I earned my B.A. in Organizational Communication and a minor in Marketing. With a strong foundation in administrative support and business communication, I’ve developed a deep passion for organizational efficiency and client service. Currently, I’m working toward my certification as a Certified College Financial Consultant (CCFC). My goal is to empower families with smart, practical strategies to save for college and make higher education more financially accessible. Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with friends and family, playing with my dog Lacy, and exploring the latest fashion trends.

Hi, my name is Ellie Nelson, and I am currently a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double majoring in Spanish and Psychology. I have a deep passion for teaching and hope to combine my academic interests to inspire and support others in their learning journeys.

Emily Yamasaki is a college counselor at Olympus College Prep. She has worked at Olympus (previously Aydin’s Academy) for five years now and loves helping students reach their academic, personal, and career goals. Emily studied computer science and information systems at Loyola University Chicago where she conducted undergraduate research and explored the Windy City. In her free time Emily loves to try out new restaurants, swim in Lake Michigan, and read.

Hi! I’m Harsha Sangam, a UC Santa Barbara graduate. I’ve been tutoring math since my freshman year of high school and had the pleasure of tutoring higher-level math at UCSB. I love watching students succeed in concepts they once thought were impossible, and ultimately, I want to inspire them to engage in their learning. In my free time, I’m usually listening to K-pop, binge-watching sitcoms (usually The Big Bang Theory), and drinking matcha!

Hello! My name is Jasmin Kaur Sahota and I am a current freshman at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I enjoy hikes on a light, summer morning as a fun way to combine my love for nature and fitness. I have begun suturing to develop basic suture techniques. Photography has been a recent passion of mine through my love for beautiful landscapes. My favorite part of the job is seeing the change in students’ confidence when they are able to do something they did not think was possible in their writing.

Hello, I am Marco Guglielmino, a recent graduate of San Jose State University, and a tutor since 2020. When tutoring at the college level, I specialize in tutoring the AMC and AIME math competitions, as well as K-College Mathematics including Abstract Algebra. I have experience tutoring ACT/SAT, as well as the GRE and LSAT. In my free time, I enjoy playing video games, watching basketball, and cooking a variety of foods. For me, the joy of teaching comes when I see someone who was struggling with a new concept, watching it finally click for them, and finally seeing them accomplish their goals.

Hello, my name is Natasha Bercy and I am a third year pre-dental student at UC San Diego. I’ve been working as a tutor at Olympus College Prep for almost a year, and I love guiding students through the subjects that will help them in their future career pathways, especially other pre-health students. Outside of tutoring, my hobbies include rock climbing, running, and spending time with friends.

Hi Everyone! I’m Savannah Simonds, a dedicated tutor at Olympus College Prep! I have a pre-med background in STEM courses, a phlebotomy license and I’m a trained medical scribe. This is all due to my ever-growing passion for science, biology, and biotechnology! My favorite aspect of my job is helping students achieve their academic goals while guiding them toward successful and healthy study habits that allow them to flourish in any subject! I am currently a rising senior at Cal State East Bay pursuing my bachelor's degree in Biology. I am fascinated with robotics and the med device industry and plan to obtain my surgical tech degree with a specialization in robotics post-college.

My name is Sean O’Brien, and I am a tutor here at Olympus College Prep! I have been tutoring with Olympus College Prep for over a year now, and specialize in tutoring from grades K-8. I completed my undergraduate education at Oregon State University, and just received my teaching credential from Saint Mary’s College of California. I have been tutoring with Olympus College Prep for over a year now, and specialize in tutoring from grades K-8. I student-taught for both a 4th grade class and a 2nd grade class, and look to weave the many teaching strategies I learned into my own instruction. I love being able to help students with things like school work, organization, study habits, and so much more.

Hi! I'm Shruti Sengottuvel, and I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of California, Davis majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Technology Management. Generally, I tutor math across all grades, including AP. In my free time, I enjoy reading, painting, and hanging out with friends.

Hello! My name is Vaishnavi Rao and I am a third year student at UC San Diego. I am currently majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Medicine Sciences. I have been working with Aydin for almost three years. Prior to that, Aydin was my tutor since my sophomore year of high school. I enjoy teaching math, chemistry, and biology. In my free time, I love going to the beach, reading, and finding new music!

My name is Vasuki Rao and I am a junior at Saint Louis University studying health sciences and biology on the pre-med track. I have been tutoring since 2019, and have been with Olympus College Prep since 2021. I love to help students realize their full potential and achieve their academic goals. Every student is unique, and it is an extremely rewarding experience to help students find what methods work for them. These studying techniques lead to academic confidence, which is essential for higher education. Aside from tutoring, I enjoy baking and traveling. Whenever I have a little bit of free time I like to get lost in a good book or paint.