About Us

Aydin Mehrage

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.

Anshi Arora

Hi! My name is Anshi Arora. I am currently a student at UC Santa Barbara studying statistics and data science. In my free time, I love reading, listening to all kinds of music, going to the beach, and spending time with my family and friends. I have a lot of experience tutoring for test preparation and I love watching my students achieve their dream SAT/ACT scores!

Christopher Blackstone

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.

Emily Yamasaki

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.

Emma Monsen

My name is Emma Monsen and I am a fourth year Neuroscience major and Psychology minor at UC Davis. After working as a junior specialist I plan to apply to MD/PhD programs and become a physician-scientist. I have been tutoring with Olympus College Prep for the last five years and have loved guiding students of all ages through their academic careers! In my free time I love hiking, hammocking, painting, and making jewelry.

Jasmin Sahota

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.

Jeanita Lyman

I am a Bay Area local and journalist with a passion for education and career preparation for high school and undergraduate students. As a journalist, I am grateful and inspired for the opportunity to hear about Tri-Valley students' accomplishments and aspirations. As an undergraduate instructor and high school classroom volunteer while in graduate school for philosophy at San Francisco State University – and in my role here – I love having the opportunity to assist and observe students' aspirations and achievements. In my free time, I enjoy time with my cat Rosie and with my two younger brothers, one of whom is a teenager reveling in his high school education and looking towards college. I also love getting out for live music and literary events throughout the Bay Area, and participating in alumnae events for my alma mater Mills College.

Marco Guglielmino

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.

Michelle Lee

Having graduated from Duke with a passion for increasing educational access, Michelle Lee has counseled countless students help them become thriving collegiate students. With her experience at Duke, UCLA, Columbia, & UC DAvis, Michelle aims to bring transparency and direction to families aiming for the top college admissions.

 Natasha Bercy

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.

Octavia Braun

Hello, my name is Octavia Braun, and I am an incoming third-year Nanoengineering student at UC San Diego.  While I am relatively new to Olympus College Prep, I have been tutoring students K-12 for the past 4 years.  In my free time, I enjoy hiking, rock climbing, paddle boarding, and exploring new places.

Omid Mehrage

Hello! My name is Omid Mehrage, I am the administrative assistant to Aydin for Olympus College Prep. I have been both a teacher and an enrollment director prior to joining Olympus but I feel my greatest strength is in my passion for making a difference in the world of education. In my spare time I enjoy photography and drawing but my true passion lies in the kitchen where I am trying to learn new recipes every week.

Ostyn Sy

Hello! My name is Ostyn Sy, and I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from San Francisco State University, alongside my passion for running, rock climbing, Muay Thai, and traveling. I thrive on guiding students towards those "aha" moments, showing them that subjects are not only conquerable but also enjoyable.

Savannah Simonds

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.

Sean O Brian

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.

Shruti Sengottuvel

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.

Sophia Tzonev

Hello, I’m Sophia Tzonev! I’ve been working at Olympus College Prep for over three years and have found a niche in helping students fall in love with reading and writing. I’m currently a student at UC Davis studying cognitive science and computer science. I like spending my free time reading novels, talking with friends, and overanalyzing directors’ choices in movies and shows.

Vaishnavi Rao

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!

Vasuki Rao

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.