The Hoover High School DSA clubs traveled to beautiful Malibu on Monday, taking a field trip to Pepperdine University.

The trip, aiming to expose students to higher education opportunities and show the potential future paths, was supervised by school counselors: Araxi Dertavitian, Emma Nicole Hernandez, and Neala Ebrahimi, who organized a self-guided tour, allowing students to explore the campus at their own pace. Also, the trip was accompanied by Peperdine’s alumni, Hoover’s assistant principal, Hrant Avik Yahiayan. 

Pepperdine is a private non-profit Christian University mostly known for its strong academic programs, particularly in business, law, and communications, as well as its nationally acclaimed Division I athletics program. 

“We saw multiple good players, very high level. The facilities looked very professional. If anyone is looking for a great tennis program, I definitely recommend checking out Pepperdine,” said Vincent Abechian, a junior at Hoover High.

The campus, which is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, contributed to Pepperdine’s reputation as one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States.

“The view of the ocean from the campus was amazing, and so was the campus itself,” said Hoover student Max Demarco. “My friends and I had lots of fun while exploring it. We also interacted with the students, learning about their experience at the university.”

Students finished their field trip with a visit to Malibu Beach. Some students decided to kick off their shoes to play sports like volleyball and soccer, walk around the shore, or enjoy the food they purchased earlier at the campus.

“It was a very successful trip,” Dartevitian said. “It was an amazing opportunity for our seniors and juniors to get together. I think these college tours are very important to our students to actually see college campuses, and decide whether or not it’s gonna be a great fit for them before they apply.”