Inspired by a viral series of profiles and stories known as Humans of New York, Humans of Delbarton illustrates what makes Delbarton, well, Delbarton. Our community is filled with dedicated individuals, from students, faculty, and staff, to parents and alumni, and each person has his or her own unique Delbarton Experience to tell.

Meet Delbarton Freshman and Virtual Tutoring Program Creator Ajay Tolia '28.

"The best way I can describe freshman year at Delbarton is that it reminds me of when I first learned how to ride a bicycle," Tolia began. "I was both nervous and excited to jump on the seat for the first time, before quickly realizing that pedaling the bike was not easy without coordination, thought, and balance." Starting Delbarton as a lifer and having a familiarity with the school helped him ease into his freshman year at Delbarton. "I would say having familiarity with the campus, teachers, and upperclassmen as a lifer helps but is not required to smoothly make the transition to high school. One of the best things about entering high school at Delbarton has been the opportunity to meet so many new students from different places which has been an amazing experience so far." Tolia is enjoying all of his classes this year, with a particular interest in English with Mr. Sherwood and Arabic with Mr. Tabor. He has already learned a great deal and looks forward to continuing his progress throughout the year.

Wrapping up the first semester, Tolia is a proud member of many clubs and organizations on campus including the Delbarton Varsity Squash team, Forensics Team, Ethics Bowl Team, Benedictones, Tri-M Music Honor Society, School Host Program, Abbey Players and Diversity Among Peers.

Outside of Delbarton, you can find Tolia volunteering with the Youth Advisory Council of the Ronald McDonald House New York or one of multiple community centers such as. When he first began volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Newark (BGCN) over a year ago, Tolia aimed to make a difference through academics, athletics, and the arts. Little did he know, his dedication would inspire an innovative virtual tutoring program that has already had a transformative impact on students in Newark.

Working closely with third and fourth graders, Tolia quickly realized the challenges of being the only tutor for such a large group. “A single tutor alone is not as effective as having a team of tutors," he started. "I was the only tutor for 20-30 students in the 3rd and 4th grades, which took place in the gym.  I tried my best to accommodate every student's tutoring requests and provide extra help, however, it was almost impossible to give each student the amount of time and attention they needed." Ajay began planning a virtual pilot program, with support from key BGCN staff members like Ms. Rosa Arenas, Director of Engagement and Volunteering, and Mr. Ade'Kamil Kelly, Program Director. Their backing helped establish a weekly virtual tutoring session targeting third and fourth graders. Each week, a team of Delbarton student volunteers connects with 4-6 students in a focused, distraction-free environment. The program, now in its sixth session, is scheduled to wrap up its pilot phase with a review of successes and opportunities for improvement. When Ajay shared his vision with Delbarton Director of Mission and Ministry Matt White, he received valuable input, along with the help of dedicated Delbarton tutors—Connor Tyrone '25, Matthew Tyrone '25, Veer Dhall '26, and Samuel Rotolo '26—who immediately embraced the opportunity to make a difference. "Their commitment to this program has tremendously impacted the students at the BCGN. Without these volunteers, the program would never have taken off," he said. The feedback from the students at BGCN has been overwhelmingly positive as they look forward to their weekly sessions, eager to learn and grow each week. "They see the Delbarton tutors as mentors. Other BCGN students are now also asking if they can be a part of this tutoring program."

Of all the Benedictine Hallmarks, Tolia feels very connected to humility. "In my opinion, humility is not just a value, virtue, or personality trait but should be a way of life. Humility helps build empathy, both of which are key to building relationships with others. As Socrates once said, 'The wisest man is the man who knows he knows nothing'". Tolia has built great relationships both on and off campus as he decided to start his own nonprofit, Youth Get Next after participating in a Delbarton DEEP project focused on introducing the basics of financial literacy to middle students in Paterson, NJ. "Our mission statement is to eliminate barriers for children lacking resources and access to the educational and developmental benefits of extracurricular and after-school programs." Tolia has been responsible for organizing squash and golf clinics, for unhoused children at the Newark YMCA, baseball clinics for children at Oasis Safe Haven in Paterson NJ, and tutoring and mentorship programs at several sites in the local underserved community. "I have been fortunate to have met so many amazing and influential community partners and advisors who have been instrumental in helping YGN grow and promote its mission statement," he said. He looks to get the Delbarton Baseball team involved in his next baseball clinic during his second season of baseball clinics at Oasis, an organization that supports women and children as they work towards a brighter future.

As an 8th grader, Tolia began tutoring at Oasis and started weekly baseball clinics for 20-30 students after noticing their interest in the sport. He recruited teammates and his head coach Jim Wladyka from Wladyka Baseball, and held an equipment drive to support the effort. To inspire confidence, Tolia organized a scrimmage at Paterson’s historic Hinchliffe Stadium, with support from the NJ Jackals and Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. The event was a success, and Tolia was able to later secure 55 Yankees tickets to promote team bonding and encourage community service among my peers. "This time around, I hope to involve the Delbarton baseball program to help run the baseball clinics and scrimmage."

Tolia recently launched a speaker series for the afterschool program at Oasis, where a high school student will be invited to share a unique topic of interest with K-8 students for 30 minutes. Delbarton students Timothy Pinheiro ’25 and Dominick Beck ’25 have volunteered to be the inaugural speakers. Timmy will discuss Ethical Decision Making, while Dominick will introduce the Essentials of Public Speaking.

Tolia has found many mentors during his short time at Delbarton. "Mr. Ross, Mr. White, and Dr. Negrin are three teachers in particular who have been extremely influential in my time at Delbarton," he said. "Mr. Ross has taught me to 'see the gray and not just the black and white.' He is a source of wisdom and provides academic advice and critical life lessons. Mr. White has been instrumental in helping me connect the Delbarton community with my tutoring program at the Newark Boys and Girls Club. It has been an honor to brainstorm with Mr. White and utilize his wisdom regarding community outreach. Dr. Negrin always has a smile on his face and a positive outlook. He is extremely responsive and has supported my goal of recruiting the Delbarton Baseball Program for my baseball clinics in Paterson, NJ. He is always generous and has helped me arrange transportation allowing the students I work with to visit Delbarton."

Ajay has recently been named a semi-finalist for the esteemed U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program, a three-week leadership exchange hosted by World Learning. This program aims to gather high school students from across the Western Hemisphere to enhance mutual understanding, build leadership skills, and empower youth to impact their communities positively. The selection process for the semi-final round is very competitive, and Tolia is proud to have advanced this far. Supported by the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with funding from the U.S. Government, this initiative connects emerging leaders with peers worldwide to promote cultural awareness and leadership growth.

Starting at Delbarton as a seventh-grader, Tolia has a piece of advice for current and soon-to-be incoming Delbarton middle schoolers: "Win it. No matter what path you choose at Delbarton, give it your all and try to be your best self." Keep up the great work, Ajay!

Look for our next story soon, and click here to recommend a member of Delbarton’s community for us to profile; students, staff, alumni, parents... ALL are welcome!