Executive Officers & Presidents Message
Dylan Ardaya - Founder / President & Executive Officer
Hi there! My name is Dylan Ardaya, and I am a high school student in Fullerton, California. Although I am not naturally good at running, I have always enjoyed the challenge, even back in elementary school. Once COVID hit in 2020, I didn’t get an ample amount of exercise every day, and consequently, my physical health declined, leaving me unable to run half a mile without stopping. That all changed when I entered middle school, at which point I was determined to get into shape by running with full effort whenever given the opportunity in physical education class. After graduating from middle school and having a solid running foundation, I made the team for Troy high school’s cross-country and track team, and my passion for the sport has only grown since then.
As my interest in running blossomed, I began to seek opportunities to benefit my community and simultaneously promote my sport. During the summer of my freshman year, I idealized how I could combine these goals. With the support of my friends, I established the Fullerton Coyotes Club. Not only is this club an outlet for my own running interest, but it also targets two large problems in our city. I realized that many people in the community suffer from obesity (about 32.3%), which could be greatly decreased by advertising physical fitness to Fullertonians. In addition to this, our city doesn’t have a strong community of people who exercise, which would be important to best promote our agenda of maintaining health as a group. From these two issues in our community, I developed our club’s mission statement: The Fullerton Coyotes Club aims to spread messages of health by using running to promote a healthier lifestyle while fostering a sense of community through our local group meetups.
To all the people that are interested in joining the club, you can expect for the club to host runs at Laguna Lake and trail cleanups once or twice per month. We post meeting dates, times, and possible location changes on our Instagram (@fullerton_coyotes_club) and on our Strava club page (Fullerton Coyotes Club). In addition to posting information about the club’s runs, we also post health information related to running, which could be a great learning source for beginner runners. Hope to see you at meetups, and have fun running!
Ethan Yan - Co-founder / Vice President & Executive Officer
Hey, I’m Ethan! I am a cofounder of the club and have been into running since elementary school. Since I have entered high school a couple years ago, I have fallen in love with this sport even more. I hope to build a community of runners that are not just on the level of attending weekly runs, but are able to provide assistance to each other and create a large, positive impact on our region! I am also obsessed with running form, health tips, and all the science behind running, and I am aspiring to be able to utilize my expertise in this area to spread my knowledge to a larger audience. To take the first steps towards my vision, I have been managing and taking part in all the content on social media, and I will do my best to foster the healthy growth of this club. I hope that we can establish a strong, active community together!
Noah Chu - Executive Officer / Chief Director of Marketing
Hi everyone! My name is Noah Chu. I am a student at Troy High School participating in both running and tennis here in Fullerton. I believe having a mindset of grit and perseverance are essential in a leadership role. Through my athletic journey, I demonstrate this mindset with the three words, “Never give up.” When I am in a track race, it can be very tempting to give in to my exhaustion. My legs cramp, my throat hurts, and my body aches, but when walking is not an option and every second counts, the only thing I can do is persevere. During races, my thoughts “pain is only temporary” and “it will be worth it,” are engraved in my mind to keep me going. I believe I am capable of my role in this club because I dive deeply into everything I do. I also have skills in graphic design, videography and photography which is a necessity for this position. Further, my entrepreneurial thinking and self initiative make me well equipped as an executive officer. I believe this club is a great opportunity to connect with others over preserving Fullerton’s nature, while also having fun and being educated. I love this club's message and I believe you will too.
General Board
Fernando Muñoz - Co-founder & General Board / Director of Merchandise
Hi, my name is Fernando Munoz, and I am a cofounder for the Fullerton Coyotes club. I am an avid runner who enjoys going on runs with my friends and teammates, as well as learning new ways and techniques to improve my running capabilities. I wanted to organize this club because I believe it is a great opportunity to connect runners throughout Fullerton, and to help those who want to get into running/fitness and adopt a healthier lifestyle. I also believe that I am capable for this position because I have good communication, leadership, and organizational skills that will help our club grow and run smoothly. Overall, I love what this club stands for and the sense of unity it brings between every member of it. Hope to see you at our runs or events!
Noah Smith Lewis - General Board / Innovation Officer
Hi! My name is Noah Smith-Lewis. I am as student at Troy High School and am on the track and cross country teams. I have always loved running, and have been on a team for the last four years. I joined the Fullerton Coyotes Club because I saw it as a fun way to earn volunteering hours as well as make connections with my community.
One of the best things about the club is that you can spend time hanging out with friends, all while working for a good cause. My job in the club is to help plan future club events as well as handle some of the political connections with the city of Fullerton as well as other organizations.
My favorite part about the Fullerton Coyotes Club is that I really feel that am making a difference in my community and helping people along the way. It is the best feeling in the world when you see all of the progress that has been made after a trail cleanup. Seeing the results of all your hard work is one of the main reasons why I continue to love being a part of the club. I am excited for the future, and seeing all of the goals of the club come to fruition.
Linus Cheng - General Board / Financial Officer
Hi, great to see you! I’m Jiahao Cheng (Linus), a Class of 2026 student at Troy High School. I compete as a center in Water Polo and as a jumper and sprinter in Track & Field, where I’ve developed discipline, resilience, and strategic thinking. Beyond athletics, I’m passionate about building a stronger, more supportive community, and I actively engage in initiatives that drive positive change. Moreover, I have a deep interest in finance and continuously seek opportunities to expand my knowledge and refine my expertise. Lastly, I hope to apply my analytical skills, leadership experience, and problem-solving abilities to contribute to this organization’s growth and impact. Looking forward to connecting!
Shaan Shah - General Board / Digital Design Officer
Hi! My name is Shaan Shah, and I am currently going to sophomore year at Troy High School in Fullerton, California. I was on the spring season Track & Field team. Even though I may not be the best at running, I am always looking for opportunities to build more stamina. Ever since middle school, I have been running pretty consistently, either in sports or on my own. This club helps me achieve my goals, and set realistic expectations for myself.
Running has become a part of my life in more ways than one. The urge to reach the finish line is something that I apply to other sports and activities in my life. It is my motivation to keep going no matter what happens. It teaches me that your mindset can change the result of anything.
Being a part of this club is my opportunity to connect to other people with the same drive and motivation as me. In addition, this club helps me achieve my personal goals in running and strengthens my passion for the sport. Since middle school, I have been doing design, website creating, and marketing activities, so contributing to the design and social media outreach portion of this club is something I know I will excel at. I hope that my skills can better serve this club and its community towards its purpose and that we will achieve our goal of uniting active people in our area! See you at our meetups!