scholarship

Birdy Wei-Ting Hung (MFA, ’24) wins the Oscar

 

SFSU alum Birdy Wei-Ting Hung won gold in the Alternative/Experimental category of the Student Academy Awards competition for her thesis film, “A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers.”

Birdy's acceptance speech at the Awards ceremony included a shout-out to SFSU, where, as an MFA student, she was awarded the Jennifer Hammett Endowed Scholarship in Cinema. 

In memory of Associate Professor of Cinema Jennifer Hammett, the scholarship aids promising graduate students in the School of Cinema who have demonstrated teaching excellence as a graduate teaching assistant. The late Professor Hammett was a scholar of American and international film theory, history, and analysis. Her devotion to excellent teaching was legendary among students and colleagues across the University.

Before coming to SFSU for her MFA, Birdy had seven years’ experience in independent filmmaking, having written, directed, and edited more than 30 projects, including documentary, music videos, fiction and experimental shorts.

Birdy believes that film production and cinema studies should work hand-in-hand. As a graduate student instructor during her MFA, she wrote to the donors of the Hammett Scholarship: 

“My humble goal as an educator is to assist students developing the skills to be self-learners, collaborative filmmakers, and active agents in their own achievements. By awarding me the Jennifer Hammett Endowed Scholarship, you have not only lightened my financial burden but motivated me to keep connecting the two disciplines in my teaching: incorporate theory-based instruction with production practices.”

The Student Academy Awards competition received a total of 2,683 entries from 738 colleges and universities worldwide. All Student Academy Award-winning films are eligible to compete for the Oscars in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film category. Past winners have gone on to receive 67 Oscar nominations and have won or shared 15 awards.

See the Oscars press release here.

 

“A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers” has also been awarded or nominated for the following:

  • San Francisco International Film Festival
    • 2025 Winner: Golden Gate Award for Bay Area Short Film
  • Golden Harvest Awards for Outstanding Short Films
    • 2025 Nominee: Golden Harvest Award for Best Experimental Short Film
  • Slamdance Film Festival
    • 2025 Nominee: Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short
  • Torino Film Festival
    • 2024 Nominee: Prize of the City of Torino for Best Short Film

 

Birdy Wei-Ting Hung

Birdy Wei-Ting Hung (MFA, ’24) accepts her trophy at the ceremony in London

2024 Oscar STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS - Birdy Wei-Ting Hung

Birdy and fellow awardees

Watch this short video that the School of Cinema made to highlight Birdy's success.

Watch the 2024 Student Academy Award Ceremony. At 20:02 Birdy talks about her film and 31:06 she gives her acceptance speech.

Donate to the College of Liberal & Creative Arts

For more information about donating to the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, contact:

Soo Kim

Senior Director of Development (Creative Arts)

soo.kim@sfsu.edu

(415) 338-7113

Read more about Soo

Facing the Music: Scholarship Awardees Ailing Zhao and Zheng (Audrey) Ma

Student photographers capture the stories behind the music by putting Gator performers in front of the lens

In the SF State course “Journalism 435: Studio Lighting and Business,” Lecturer Scot Tucker teaches his students editorial photography and professional practices. The goal: giving budding shutterbugs the skills they’d need to launch and sustain careers as photojournalists and studio photographers. As part of their classwork in the fall, Tucker’s 14 students set out to create portraits of Gators who’ve dedicated themselves to a different artform — music. 

The student photographers blended editorial photography with storytelling. The project highlighted a diverse range of campus musicians — from punk bands to classical instrumentalists — showcasing the University’s vibrant creative community. Two of the musicians featured in the project, Ailing Zhao and Zheng (Audrey) Ma, are awardees of donor-funded scholarships. Learn more about Ailing and Audrey below, and see the full photography project here.

 

Ailing Zhao

Photo by Michaela Mateo

Ailing Zhao is a fourth-year piano student in the School of Music. She has been a musician since she was 5 years old and is now a music teacher while working toward her B.A. at SF State. She has been teaching for 16 years — 10 years in China and six years in the U.S.

Ailing is a recipient of the William Corbett Jones Piano Scholarship. She hopes to become a college professor in the future. She recently gave birth to her first baby, and had to stop teaching for 5 months due to pregnancy complications. The scholarship enables Ailing to pay her tuition, buy books, and pay for child-related expenses so she can continue her studies.

Ailing says:

“Now I can focus more on my studies and have less pressure. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to continue chasing my dreams.”

 

 

 

Zheng (Audrey) Ma first became fascinated by the piano when she heard a neighbor playing when she was a child. Because she would stand outside and listen whenever the neighbor practiced, her mother spent all her savings to buy Audrey a piano of her own. “I am doing what I love every day because of my mother,” she says. “Even though she is no longer here, each time I play I feel like I am connecting with her.”

Audrey is a recipient of the Pone Scholarship. She hopes to pursue a professional piano teaching career, and says:

“This award provides me with the chance to develop skills that will benefit the music program at San Francisco State University and extend beyond it. I am deeply committed to my education and our Music program, and I am now one step closer to becoming a great pianist.”

 

Zheng (Audrey) Ma

Photo by Colin Flynn

Donate to the College of Liberal & Creative Arts

For more information about donating to the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, contact:

Soo Kim

Senior Director of Development (Creative Arts)

soo.kim@sfsu.edu

(415) 338-7113

Read more about Soo

Denny Luther ’65: “SF State Did Me Right”

With a life that has spanned continents, Dennis “Denny” Luther (B.A., Business Administration, ’65) helps students chart their own paths through his family's philanthropic support

From humble beginnings in Placerville, Calif., to the glitz of San Francisco, a two-year stint in the Army in Alaska in the ’60s, living in a van while touring throughout Europe in the ’70s, and finally landing back in San Francisco, the global trek of Dennis “Denny” Luther ’65 is as impressive as his career trajectory and as noble as his desire to help students secure an SFSU education.

Mind you, Denny’s is no ordinary story. Rather, it’s one filled with calculated choices. His decision to attend SFSU ultimately led to a successful career as a computer programmer who, along with his business partner, built, grew, and sold their company. Denny will be the first to tell you that he wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. In fact, he had doubts that he would even be successful in college and beyond. That success, though, is well proven, and Denny is happy to share the fruits of that success by lending a helping hand to students in need.

Despite his claim that he was not a great student, Denny applied to and was accepted at San Jose State, Fresno State, and SF State. “I picked San Francisco. That’s where the Giants and Niners were and that’s where you could see a good Broadway play,” he says with a laugh.

Turned out to be a great decision. Focusing his studies on business and inspired by his success in classes in Statistics and Programming, Denny graduated with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Quantitative Management. From SFSU, Denny was off to his Army stint where he served as editor of the base newspaper in Alaska. He returned to California and was hired as a salesman for Univac as business computing gained wider acceptance.

Sales, however, were not Denny’s strength. Discouraged, he was about to quit Univac, but his manager saw something in him that stood out and Denny was moved over to support businesses that bought or leased Univac computers. This gave Denny the chance to develop his programming skills to the point where he was teaching companies with computers how to program them to maximize their efficiency. Soon, however, the appeal of travelling across Europe captured his attention, so Denny gave up his Univac job.

After living in a van as he traversed through London, Amsterdam, France, Germany, Spain, and Morocco, Denny returned to San Francisco and connected with an SFSU fraternity brother, Tom Luther (no relation), and tended bar in his restaurant a few nights a week. In the upper floors of the building that housed the restaurant, Denny’s future business partner and former IBM salesman Jack Baird was making a living as a computer programming consultant, focusing on getting doctors, dentists, medical groups, and hospitals to sign up for medical and dental billing services. The benefit for the businesses was that with the computerized billing systems, they would get paid in just a week instead of the traditional 30 to 45 days.

Dennis and Barbara Luther

Dennis and Barbara Luther

Dennis and Barbara Luther at a student research showcase

Dennis and Barbara Luther at a student research showcase

Denny and Baird teamed up and gained more clients to handle electronic billing to Medicare, Medi-Cal, and other large insurers. Their business, Data Systems Group, caught on, and was purchased by Bluebird, which has since been acquired by Experian Healthcare.

As Denny says, “My party line is I woke up on January 1, 2013 with money in the bank and time on my hands.” As part of the sale, Denny set up a donor advised fund (DAF). A devout Christian, Denny and his wife Barbara share a passion for tithing and they have chosen, through their DAF, to set up a scholarship for SFSU undergraduate students who are majoring in Computer Science, are the first generation in their family to go to college, and who have demonstrated financial need.

“It breaks my heart,” Denny said when asked about his motivation for setting up the scholarship. “College is so damned expensive, and you can’t go there on your own. I’m hoping that this will help them through school and they’ll have a college degree and one thing will lead to another, and then to another.”

Much like one thing led to another and another for Denny, he’s hoping that recipients of the Luther Family Scholarship will find the financial support he and Barbara offer impactful to put them on the course to life-changing learning experiences.

“It breaks my heart. College is so damned expensive, and you can’t go there on your own. I’m hoping that this will help them through school and they’ll have a college degree and one thing will lead to another, and then to another."

—Dennis Luther (B.A., Business Administration, ’65)

Denny is grateful that he attended SFSU, something he calls a wonderful experience. “I still have friends from State. I wasn’t sure that I had the wherewithal to be a college student, but then in my sophomore year I got a B in biology and said, ‘Well, I can do this!’”

Not only could he do it, but Denny did it very well. And, today he stands by the words on the customized donor brick he placed outside of the Nassar Family Gym: “Denny Luther ’65, SF State Did Me Right.”

Donate to the College of Science & Engineering

For more information, contact:

David Fierberg, MNA, CFRE

Executive Director of Development

dfierberg@sfsu.edu

(415) 405-3966

Read more about David

Student Earns Top CSU Award, Says “Education Radically Transformed” His Life

Juan Carlos Arredondo (B.A.. ’24) returns to SFSU, pursues graduate degree to advance career in supporting migrant communities

Juan Carlos Arredondo faced challenges that profoundly disrupted his life. His father passed away when Arredondo was young, he had to navigate the United States education system as a child with very little guidance and he dropped in and out of college while pursuing an associate’s degree. 

Despite these challenges, Arredondo persevered and turned his life around. Last spring he earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University, graduating with a 4.0 grade-point average. He returned to San Francisco State in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in Social Work. On top of that, he earned one of the most prestigious student accolades.

The California State University (CSU) awarded Arredondo the Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, the highest recognition of student achievement granted by the CSU. Each award provides a donor-funded scholarship to students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and inspirational goals for the future. The awardees have demonstrated a deep commitment to making a positive impact on their generation, as well as those who come after them.

“Mr. Arredondo is an extraordinary person as well as a promising future professional who deserves the support provided by this award,” SF State President Lynn Mahoney said. “He possesses qualities of character, determination and personal excellence that’ll help him reach his goals and better our communities.”

Arredondo was born in the U.S., relocated to Mexico due to his father’s death and eventually moved back to the U.S. When he returned, he spent all of his time outside of school helping with food preparation for his mother’s food truck that catered to agricultural workers. While this experience shaped his strong worth ethic, it also took away his focus on school at times and prevented him from joining extracurricular activities.

“Through the visionary generosity of our donors, the CSU is able to uplift and support these diverse students and truly outstanding scholars who have overcome educational and personal hardships in pursuit of a college degree that will not only transform their lives, but will also elevate their families and strengthen their communities.”

—CSU Chancellor Mildred García

After a decade of financially insecure and high-pressure work, Arredondo committed to pursuing an undergraduate degree. At that time, he had learned about an agency at the U.S./Mexico border that provides counseling to migrants who are incarcerated and separated from their families. That’s when his dream of becoming a social worker came into focus. “I want to be a role model and catalyst for change and embody the representation and services that were not available during my youth,” he said.

While at SFSU, Arredondo worked hard toward his dream. He led a qualitative study that highlighted the voices of the unhoused population in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District and presented the findings at the 2024 Social Work Social Development Joint World Conference.

He was awarded the Vincent Costantino University Scholarship and also won the highly competitive Willie L. Brown , Jr. Fellowship, which landed him an internship with San Francisco’s Human Services Agency. There he helped connect emancipated foster youth to a guaranteed-income pilot program, shadowed social workers in the family maintenance and family reunification department and assisted with biopsychosocial assessments.

“Education radically transformed my life,” Arredondo said. “It has not only given me meaning and hope for the future, but it is also healing old wounds. It has made me aware that I have always been capable.”

Arredondo is also involved in helping the communities he deeply cares for. For example, he interns at Manzanita SEED Elementary School, where he provides bilingual behavioral therapy in Spanish and English.

“It is with tremendous joy and great pride that I celebrate the outstanding achievements and extraordinary perseverance of this year’s Trustees’ Scholars,” said CSU Chancellor Mildred García. “Through the visionary generosity of our donors, the CSU is able to uplift and support these diverse students and truly outstanding scholars who have overcome educational and personal hardships in pursuit of a college degree that will not only transform their lives, but will also elevate their families and strengthen their communities.”

 

Learn more about supporting SF State scholarships

For more information about donating to the College of Health & Social Sciences, contact:

Dafna Kapshud

Director of Development

College of Health & Social Sciences

dkapshud@sfsu.edu

(415) 338-7112

Read more about Dafna

Investing in the Future: The Transformative Role of Scholarship Donors in Marci Lapriore’s Journey

Marci encourages donors to believe in their “exponential impact,” reminding them that what they give today multiplies in ways they may never see

Marci Lapriore, a graduate student in the Educational Leadership doctoral program at SFSU’s Graduate College of Education and a community college educator herself, is no stranger to challenges. Her story is one of resilience, shaped by financial hardships, an unwavering passion for learning, and the transformative impact of SFSU’s donor-funded scholarships.

Marci grew up in a community where poverty was the common thread and the prospect of higher education seemed daunting. Her early life was marked by a lack of financial resources and opportunities. “Everything my mom did was cash-based. If she got paid, we ate; if she didn’t, we waited,” she recalls. Despite these obstacles, Marci’s love for education never wavered. She knew from an early age that she wanted to attend college, even though she didn’t fully understand how to get there.

Her journey to higher education was far from traditional. At 17, she graduated high school, planning to join the military to fund her education, but chose instead to marry and start a family. Juggling motherhood and college, Marci’s determination saw her through years of financial strain and personal sacrifice. “I started with debt,” she explains. “Moving out of my mom’s house, going to college: it all began with borrowing.”

In the years that Marci persevered through her bachelor's and master's degrees, she paid for her education with credit cards and student loans. “I was so excited that I suddenly had money, not realizing what that sort of money cost. It turned into a cycle that fed itself,” she says. “I never even knew what scholarships were. I never applied for a scholarship. I didn't even know they were available.” 

Marci relied on student loans to support her family during her studies and even, during her undergraduate years, to pay for her 15-year-old brother’s funeral after his sudden passing. She contrasts that time with the heartfelt relief that scholarships now provide her. “When I think back to just how much I didn’t have and how I am still suffering from paying off that life, it means so much to have [a donor] out there say, ‘I’m going to give back in this way.’ To be the recipient of that is priceless.”

"It means so much to have [a donor] out there say, ‘I’m going to give back in this way.’ To be the recipient of that is priceless.” 
—Marci Lapriore, graduate student in the Educational Leadership doctoral program

Over the years, Marci faced criticism from those around her. “I felt a lot of guilt and shame around pursuing education, even community college. I was made to feel by the people around me — especially people in my family who hadn't gone to college — that it was self-serving, I was being selfish, I was wasting money, I was wasting time, I was trying to get away from my kids,” she shares. But her love of learning and teaching kept her focused. “What I learn at school — no matter the class — helps me be a better teacher. I love using what I learn and putting it into the classroom immediately.”

Marci Lapriore - student

Marci Lapriore, graduate student in the Educational Leadership doctoral program

“[Donors] feel like extended family, family that have the means to help others and have, out of the kindness of their hearts, put money towards [a stranger’s] education.” 
—Marci Lapriore

Marci’s perseverance eventually brought her to the Graduate College of Education at SF State, where she found a program with values that align closely with her own. “At San Francisco State, we talk about social justice, but we also stop and immediately address any injustice in the room. We're not tiptoeing around — we're actually in the mud together, talking about what we can fix before we move forward. That’s what I [hoped for], and luckily, it’s what I’m getting at SF State,” she says.

In stark contrast to the loans that funded her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Marci has been awarded scholarships while pursuing her doctorate, including the Vincent Costantino University Scholarship and the Crumpton, Baxter, Bonham Memorial Scholarship. Reflecting on the SF State scholarship donors who have made her education possible, she says, “They feel like extended family, family that have the means to help others and have, out of the kindness of their hearts, put money towards [a stranger’s] education.” The scholarships have allowed her to focus on her studies and her passion for teaching. “Without your support, I wouldn’t be able to do this,” she emphasizes.

As a first-generation college graduate and professional, Marci believes that the ripple effect of education is immeasurable. She encourages donors to believe in their “exponential impact,” reminding them that what they give today multiplies in ways they may never see: “[Giving] pays forward — it's not the end. Writing a check for $1,000 is $1,000 out of a bank account, but it’s unquantifiable how much more that’s going to pay out in the future,” she points out. “You have to believe that exponential impact is real, because it is, even if you don’t see it.” 

“[Giving] pays forward — it's not the end. Writing a check for $1,000 is $1,000 out of a bank account, but it’s unquantifiable how much more that’s going to pay out in the future. Exponential impact is real, even if you don’t see it.” 
—Marci Lapriore

As a community college educator, Marci works to foster equity in her own classroom, particularly in her college composition writing courses, where she ensures that every student has opportunities to succeed. She has also taken on leadership roles at work that reflect her commitment to enhancing institutional practices and championing meaningful student outcomes. Amongst many other roles, she serves as English Department Chair, represents her colleagues on the Academic Senate and Shared Governance Council, and advocates for faculty as a union representative and as a communications officer for the union. Looking ahead, she plans to continue teaching and using her experiences to inspire students.

Marci Lapriore’s story is a testament to the “exponential impact” of education and the generosity of those who believe in its value. “Thank you so much for paying it forward and for investing in me,” she says gratefully to SF State’s donors. “You're investing in somebody that's investing in the future as well.”

 

Learn more about supporting SF State scholarships

For more information about donating to scholarships, contact:

Anjali Billa

Associate Vice President of University Development 

anjalibilla@sfsu.edu

(415) 405-3625

Read more about Anjali

The Power of Support: Megan Rogers’ Story of Resilience

Megan credits SF State and its donors for helping her emerge as a confident, capable leader, noting that SF State is ‘through the charts’ for rate of return

When Megan Rogers (B.S., Public Health, ’24) walked across the stage to receive her degree from San Francisco State University, it marked more than just the culmination of her academic journey. It symbolized resilience, transformation, and the impact of community.

A fourth-generation San Franciscan, Megan’s path to SF State was anything but straightforward. Accepted into a University of California school at 18, she soon found herself unprepared for the challenges of higher education. “I always enjoyed school. I loved learning, but I wasn’t fully ready to be present for my studies,” she recalls. After withdrawing from college at 19, Megan spent years in a cycle of returning to school, taking breaks, and navigating struggles like addiction, homelessness, and self-doubt.

Finally, in her late thirties, Megan re-enrolled at SF State with a renewed purpose. “I really just wanted to complete school for myself — not just to get the degree or accolades, but to finish something,” she says. “The learning arena filled my soul.”

Returning to college, Megan discovered a vibrant and supportive community at SF State — a “sanctuary,” she recalls. It was the kind of university experience she “had always yearned to be a part of” and where she felt she really mattered and made a difference. Initially, she focused on earning a degree in Public Health, drawn to the field by her passion for accessible and affordable healthcare. Her public health internship at Thurgood Marshall Academic High School in San Francisco reaffirmed her commitment to community health.

“The learning arena filled my soul.” 
—Megan Rogers (B.S., Public Health, ’24)

However, it was a ceramics class that truly transformed her journey. “I just fell in love with ceramics,” Megan explains. “And I thought, ‘Oh, I could add this as a minor.” The creative environment of School of Art became a cornerstone of her University experience as she added double minors in Studio Art and Holistic Health. Through SF State’s pilot Art Handling program, Megan gained practical skills and found a cohort of “quirky and supportive” peers who shared her enthusiasm and amongst whom she could be herself. Megan reminisces, “It was one of the few programs with mandatory field trips to SFMOMA and the de Young. And, oh, my goodness, I just felt my spirit come alive!”

Scholarships played a pivotal role in Megan’s ability to thrive at SF State. As the recipient of multiple donor-funded scholarships and awards — including the Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship, Vincent Costantino Endowed Scholarship, John Irwin Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Leslie and Phyllis Wong Endowed Scholarship, and the Donalida Merrilat Endowed Scholarship, among others — Megan was able to focus fully on her education. While she initially balanced two part-time jobs that totaled 40 hours/week and multiple side gigs, scholarships eventually allowed Megan to reduce her workload and concentrate on academics.

“At one point, scholarships meant the difference between working 40 hours a week or 10 hours on-call,” Megan recalls. “At another, it was the difference between living in a safe, clean environment versus facing potential homelessness.” Without scholarships, she believes she might have delayed her degree, accumulated significant debt, or put her education on hold altogether. The opportunities created by these scholarships, she explains, inevitably had a ripple effect that positively impacted multiple areas of her life: “Because I was able to work manageable hours and remain in San Francisco, I had access to life-changing opportunities, such as applying for a prestigious fellowship and joining the pilot Art Handling program,” Megan says.

“Because I was able to work manageable hours and remain in San Francisco, I had access to life-changing opportunities, such as applying for a prestigious fellowship and joining the pilot Art Handling program.”
—Megan Rogers (B.S., Public Health, ’24)

These scholarships didn’t just provide financial relief. Speaking directly to SF State donors, Megan says, “Your support creates opportunities for students at a public university who might otherwise feel unseen, unheard, or unsupported. I did not always believe in my ability to succeed or feel deserving of the opportunities I pursued. Being chosen as a scholarship recipient was a profound affirmation of my self-worth, shifting how I viewed myself and my potential.”

Megan’s experience at SF State inspired her to give back. She mentored fellow students through Project Rebound, encouraging them to pursue scholarships and their goals. In her final semester, she deepened her understanding of public policy, connecting it to her lived experiences of homelessness, her nonprofit work in housing, and community health. Her involvement in the Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship led to an invitation for her to draft legislative policy. The bill passed, an accomplishment that boosted her self-confidence and solidified her belief in the power of education to create change. Now a proud San Francisco State University graduate, Megan credits SF State and its donors for helping her emerge as a confident, capable leader.

Megan Rogers - alum

Megan Rogers during the SFSU Art Handling pilot program (summer 2024)

Megan Rogers - alum

Megan Rogers participating in the Willie Brown Fellowship — District 5, CCSF Board of Supervisors (spring 2024)

Megan Rogers - alum

Megan Rogers at Commencement 2024

“Your support creates opportunities for students at a public university who might otherwise feel unseen, unheard, or unsupported. Being chosen as a scholarship recipient was a profound affirmation of my self-worth, shifting how I viewed myself and my potential.” 
—Megan Rogers (B.S., Public Health, ’24)

With 70% of SF State students relying on financial aid, contributions to scholarships create opportunities for those who need it most. Megan has a heartfelt message for past and prospective SF State donors: “Extending far beyond the classroom, your generosity touches the hearts and shapes the futures of students striving to achieve their dreams,” she says. “By investing in scholarships, you are not just supporting education; you are fostering a long-lasting effect of growth and progress that extends far beyond the University. […] So, for rate of return and what to invest in, SF State is through the charts,” Megan concludes.

The higher education ratings certainly agree with her: SF State’s 2024 ranking as 8th in the nation* for social mobility underscores our students’ potential to create meaningful change, their long-lasting contributions to our communities, and the transformative power of donor support.

“By investing in scholarships, you are fostering a long-lasting effect of growth and progress that extends far beyond the University. So, for rate of return and what to invest in, SF State is through the charts.” 
—Megan Rogers (B.S., Public Health, ’24)

* U.S. News & World Report ranked SF State 8th in the nation for social mobility in its 2024 Best Colleges list.

 

Learn more about supporting SF State scholarships

For more information about donating to scholarships, contact:

Anjali Billa

Associate Vice President of University Development

anjalibilla@sfsu.edu

(415) 405-3625

Read more about Anjali

From Mat to Mission: Keith Spataro’s Journey of Impact

Philanthropy is a natural extension of Keith’s gratitude for the opportunities he received at SF State

San Francisco State University alum Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95) carries his Gator pride with him every day. As Vice President for Athletics at Menlo College, Keith has devoted his career to higher education, building programs, and helping students achieve their potential. His journey is deeply intertwined with his time at SF State, where he discovered the resilience, determination, and community spirit that continue to inspire his philanthropy today.

Originally from Florida, Keith moved to California in 1989 and began his academic journey at Skyline College before transferring to SF State. It was a decision shaped by both opportunity and family: his brother was wrestling at Skyline, and transferring to SF State allowed Keith to continue his education while staying locally connected to his family. “It was the right choice, the right time, and a good opportunity for me,” Keith reflects. 

Keith credits his time at SF State with teaching him invaluable lessons about perseverance and purpose, particularly through the wrestling program led by the legendary Coach Lars Jensen. The program’s emphasis on supporting first-generation students and reflecting the Bay Area’s diversity resonated deeply with Keith, who saw the wrestling team as a microcosm of SF State’s mission and its commitment to equity and opportunity.

When the wrestling program faced potential cuts, it was Coach Jensen’s leadership and the team’s impact that preserved it. “Coach Jensen connected the dots very effectively. He tied the mission of the University — supporting first-generation college students and students from all walks of life — in a very meaningful way to our roster. We resembled that mission,” Keith recalls. 

The wrestling program proved indispensable because its athletes represented what SF State stood for — access to education and opportunity for all students. “That really stuck with me,” Keith says, “and it honestly has been profound in my career.” An outcry from SF State alumni ultimately helped save the program.

This experience instilled in Keith a commitment to representing value and contributing to the greater good — principles that have guided his multifaceted career across athletics, enrollment management, marketing, and operations. “Everything I do is about proving return on investment,” Keith says, “and demonstrating the value that anything we're doing brings to the institution.”

“Everything I do is about proving return on investment.” 
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

Philanthropy is a natural extension of Keith’s gratitude for the opportunities he received. Through the Spataro Alumni Wrestling Scholarship, he and his wife aim to support future generations of Gators. “We’ve been fortunate that we've been able to help change some students’ lives,” Keith shares. Connecting with scholarship awardees has been deeply rewarding for them both: “It’s always meaningful when you can put a face and name to your giving.”

The tight-knit wrestling community also inspires Keith’s giving. He remains thankful for the sport that shaped his life, crediting its “do it yourself” nature with honing his self-reliance and endurance. But wrestling also taught him the value of a supportive community that lifts one another toward success. Keith fondly recalls the potluck dinners Coach Jensen organized after student-alumni matches, where connections flourished and donations flowed. He was astonished when alumni handed Coach Jensen checks for the wrestling program in testament to their shared dedication to the team. “We couldn’t survive or be successful without that [money],” Keith realized at the time. Witnessing that generosity left a lasting impression and cemented his commitment: “I knew that when I had the capacity, I needed to do the same thing.”

“We couldn’t survive or be successful without that [money]. I knew that when I had the capacity, I needed to do the same thing.” 
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

Keith vividly describes wrestling as a sport that demands extraordinary physical and mental toughness. Wrestlers are pushed to extremes — through weight cuts, relentless training, and physical exhaustion — while required to face their opponent, alone, in the center of the mat. It is a grueling test of both body and mind, where success depends entirely on individual effort. Yet what stands out most to Keith is the respect and camaraderie amongst teammates. Looking across the mat and seeing a teammate enduring the same challenges creates a distinctive bond, one forged through shared struggle and perseverance. “In wrestling, we’re just trying to survive,” Keith reflects, “but we need each other to do that.”

Keith Spataro

Keith Spataro

Keith Spataro

Keith Spataro as an SF State Wrestling student-athlete

Keith Spataro and his wife

Through the Spataro Alumni Wrestling Scholarship, Keith and his wife aim to support future generations of Gators

“In wrestling, we’re just trying to survive. But we need each other to do that.” 
—Keith Spataro (B.A.,’95)

Keith’s philanthropic contributions focus on the Gator Athletics wrestling program, but he recognizes the broader impact of his giving. “Donating to one specific area frees up money to get to somewhere else,” he points out, ensuring resources can be allocated meaningfully elsewhere in Athletics and across the University.

Keith Spataro
Keith Spataro

Above & right: Keith with former SFSU athletes and teammates

Keith Spataro

Keith’s continued dedication to SF State is rooted in his passion for athletics and his belief in the University’s mission to provide an accessible, high-quality education to students of all backgrounds. He hopes his story will inspire others to give back.

“I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren’t for the experience I had at San Francisco State,” Keith says. “It shaped me in meaningful ways and for most of my professional career, but I didn't reflect on it until Coach [Jensen] passed away. I then realized how powerful my experience was. I want other wrestlers to gain the same thing.” 

“I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren’t for the experience I had at San Francisco State.” 
—Keith Spataro (B.A., Kinesiology/Physical Education, ’95)

Keith is optimistic that the student-athletes supported by the Spataro Alumni Wrestling Scholarship will one day recognize the ripple effects of their own University experiences: “At some point in their lives, they’ll reflect back and say, ‘If I didn't get the Spataro Scholarship and wrestle at San Francisco State, this wouldn't have happened,’ whatever this is for that individual. ‘You know what, that changed my life.’ It won’t be the [scholarship] money that changes their lives, but the experience they get from the money. And that's what I'm for.”

 

Donate to Gator Athletics

For more information about donating to Gator Athletics, contact:

David Fierberg, MNA, CFRE

Executive Director of Development   
Gator Athletics

dfierberg@sfsu.edu

(415) 405-3966

Read more about David

Scholarship awardees amongst the outstanding graduates honored at 2024 Commencement

Four of the graduates were awardees of donor-funded scholarships while studying at San Francisco State University

A dozen outstanding graduates were honored during San Francisco State University’s 123rd Commencement ceremony, held at Oracle Park on May 24. They represented their more than 7,300 graduating peers in the Class of 2024.

As part of a longstanding tradition, each of the University’s six academic colleges selected an undergraduate and a graduate student to represent their classmates and wear their college’s academic hood during the ceremony. Additionally, two of the hood recipients, one undergraduate and one graduate student, delivered a Commencement address. Four of the students were awardees of donor-funded scholarships while studying at San Francisco State University: Jazz Monique Hudson, Zen Lewis, Su Ilayada Ozcan, and Monique Scott. Click on each of the students' names below to learn more about them.

Jazz Hudson - student

Jazz Monique Hudson

Zen Lewis - student

Zen Lewis

Su Ilayada Ozcan - student

Su Ilayada Ozcan

Monique Scott - student

Monique Scott

Jazz Monique Hudson: Undergraduate Hood Recipient

B.A., Africana Studies
College of Ethnic Studies

Jazz Monique Hudson, an Oakland native with over 15 years of expertise in youth development, educational arts, social justice and organizational change, epitomizes resilience and commitment to societal transformation. Despite the challenges she faced early in her life as a former foster youth and teenage mother, Hudson has overcome them and is now dedicating her life to being an advocate, artist and educator.

For example, Hudson was involved with organizations like the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, Black Youth Project 100 (where she was a founding member) and the Guardian Scholars Program. She was also a program director and founding member of the EMERGE Reentry Program, which focuses on supporting young women of color reintegrating into society after incarceration and academic pushout. Additionally, Hudson was a victim advocate for the San Francisco District Attorney and has had residencies, workshops and performances at universities like UC Berkeley and Princeton.

While studying at SF State, Jazz was awarded the Sylvan and Donna Kline Guardian Scholars Memorial Scholarship, a named scholarship to honor the memory of Joanne Rae Kline, the daughter of Sylvan and Donna Kline, who empowered others through her advocacy of education. The endowed scholarship strengthens and permanently supports SF State’s Guardian Scholars Program, which empowers college students who are transitioning out of the foster care system.

Serendipitously, her son’s 17th birthday coincides with the SF State 2024 Commencement, which Hudson says is a reminder of the strength and resilience found in the journey of motherhood. After graduation, she plans to pursue SF State’s Pre-Health Professions Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program, which will help her take the next step toward pursuing a career in health care as an osteopathic doctor specializing in allergy and immunology.

Zen Lewis: Undergraduate Hood Recipient

B.A., International Relations/Political Science
College of Liberal & Creative Arts

In 2019, Zen Lewis’ journey to SF State began with her emigration from Serbia with the vision of achieving the American dream. As an 18-year-old in a new country with no financial support, she faced daunting challenges with housing and food insecurity, while attempting to find full-time employment with limited English fluency and work experience.

Today, Lewis is graduating with a double major in International Relations and Political Science with the highest honors, accompanied by Sigma Iota Rho and Pi Sigma Alpha societal honors. She represents the will and determination of young immigrant women who hail from war-torn nations to forge a new path, both for themselves and their home countries, so that those wars never occur again.

Lewis is a force of nature who speaks three languages, works full time in the wedding industry and serves as managing editor of the International Relations Journal. While earning the Migration and Refugee Studies certificate, she has demonstrated an exemplary work ethic, enthusiasm for global politics and resilience in the face of obstacles.

As president of the International Relations Student Association, Lewis has been a driving force, encouraging her fellow students and others in her community to get involved in domestic and international politics. She has represented SF State at Model United Nations and Model European Union conferences, where she received the Outstanding Head of Government Award. 

Lewis won the David Jenkins Scholarship for Political Activism for her impactful advocacy of student rights in a political uprising. She used her senior thesis to expand the discussion and analysis of new regime changes, using Serbia as a case study. Off campus, she has organized pop-up events for local artists and fundraisers for nonprofits.

After graduation, Lewis plans to seek a full-time position in San Francisco municipal government and pursue a law degree.

Su Ilayada Ozcan: Graduate Hood Recipient

M.S., Chemistry (Biochemistry)
College of Science & Engineering

Su Ozcan wants to develop new treatments without side effects. It’s a passion that stems from her early exposure to her grandfather’s battle with cancer. As an undergraduate in Turkey, she explored innovative therapies and gained two years of professional experience working with pharmaceutical companies. With women being relegated to the background and the value placed on science decreasing in her country, Ozcan decided to leave Turkey and pursue her academic goals in the United States.

As an international student at SF State, Ozcan focused on groundbreaking research in enzymology and medicinal chemistry to develop a novel side effect-free treatment for tuberculosis. She published these discoveries in scientific journals. She demonstrated her commitment to making a positive impact beyond the lab by serving as a teaching associate for two years. Accolades for her academic performance and commitment to science include the Henry Bertin Jr. Scholarship, the Agents of Change Build Merck Scholarship, the Bill Plachy TA (teaching assistant) Award and the CSU Trustees Award.

After SF State, Ozcan’s next step is to begin a Chemistry Ph.D. program at the University of Southern California, where she’s already been offered a graduate fellowship. Looking ahead, Ozcan is excited to continue her quest to develop new therapeutics and treatment strategies that will make an impact. She is eager to translate her academic research into practical applications and hopes to eventually establish a pharmaceutical company. Beyond medicine, she aspires to continue being a teacher and create educational opportunities for underprivileged children. She also hopes to provide financial and moral support for others, especially women in science.

Monique Scott: Graduate Hood Recipient

MPH
College of Health & Social Sciences

Monique Scott decided to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at SF State after seeing structural and systemic health disparities affect her community. She began her career as a social worker, caregiver and care coordinator, assisting people navigating governmental and nonprofit assistance programs and managing medical conditions.

During the pandemic, she became a resource navigator and case manager for individuals exposed to COVID-19. Seeing how disparities impacted marginalized residents, she wanted to make a larger impact. She became interested in the social determinants of health and how prevention programs could more effectively help communities. 

At SF State, she explored her passion for research with the Health Equity Institute. Her assessment of participation of food establishments in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) in urban university settings significantly influenced a statewide campaign to enhance access to SNAP benefits at CSU campuses.

She also published research on navigating nutrition inequities among pregnant and postpartum mothers and children in BIPOC communities. The Oakland native’s projects also included studies on how urban agriculture can use mutual aid practices and how built environment contributes to the adverse health outcomes of environmental injustices.

While at SF State, she was a Climate Action Fellow, a Graduate Equity Fellow and a President’s Leadership Fellow. She was also awarded the Vincent Costantino University Scholarship. She authored, published and presented her research at multiple local and national conferences. She also participated in the University’s Earth Week 2024.

After graduation, she will continue learning and applying her skills in research, writing and coordination to address health equity in the Bay Area. She plans to continue participating in strategies for community and policy-level interventions for marginalized communities of color. She is grateful for the SF State connections that contributed to her accomplishments.

Learn more about supporting SF State scholarships

Anthropology professor establishes student scholarships with donations to SF State

Dawn-Elissa Fischer creates awards in honor of scholar Marcyliena Morgan, civil rights attorney Walter P. Riley

Extending an academic family tree to today’s students and future generations, a professor at San Francisco State University has created two scholarships for students.  

With two generous donations to San Francisco State, Anthropology professor Dawn-Elissa Fischer has established the Marcyliena Morgan Scholarship and the Walter P. Riley Radical Change Scholarship. Both awards are eligible exclusively to SF State students. 

Fischer created the awards to respectively honor Morgan, a Harvard University professor and renowned scholar of hip-hop, and Riley, an Oakland civil rights attorney and activist. Both Morgan and Riley have fought injustices and opened doors with global impact. 

“Dr. Marcyliena Morgan and Walter Riley are revolutionaries in their own distinct ways,” Fischer said. “Their steadfast efforts have brought about widespread recognition for activists and hip-hop artists as organic intellectuals with integrity.”

With both awards, students will gain opportunities to meet mentors, join professional networks and establish their own. As a faculty member, Fischer says that mentorship is critical to engender success in students, particularly those from underrepresented groups without equitable access to professional networks. She learned the value of networking from mentors like Morgan, but also through her personal academic family tree: Fischer’s parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were all educators. 

“There are so many layers and roles that faculty play in helping students build scholarly community,” Fischer said. “In my family, it comes from a Historically Black College and University tradition, and it recognizes structural factors that often block access for talented individuals to plug into success networks,” Fischer added. “And when that happens, society loses.” 

Marcyliena Morgan Scholarship 

The Marcyliena Morgan Scholarship provides stipends for activities related to student professional development, such as travel, lodging and conference fees. These experiences enhance students’ knowledge, but perhaps even more importantly, also allow them to build their own professional networks.  

At Harvard, Morgan is the Ernest E. Monrad Professor of the Social Sciences, a professor in the Department of African and African American Studies and the executive director of the Hiphop Archive and Research Institute. Her books include “Language, Power and Discourse in African American Culture,” “Speech Communities: Key Topics in Linguistic Anthropology” and “The Real Hiphop: Battling for Knowledge, Power and Respect in LA’s Underground.” 

In December, Fischer was among the invited presenters at a tribute to Morgan at Harvard, alongside other notable mentees in academia. Fischer’s presentation makes note that Morgan’s multigenerational, worldwide impact has reached SF State: Fischer has worked with Morgan at the institute, directing special programs and collections for two decades and — along the way — connecting SF State students with Harvard fellowships.

Marcyliena Morgan

Marcyliena Morgan. Photo by Melissa Blackall/Courtesy of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research.

Walter P. Riley Radical Change Scholarship 

The Walter P. Riley Radical Change Scholarship honors students committed to pursuing radical social change through community involvement.  

An activist since high school in the Jim Crow South, Riley attended SF State in the 1960s and became involved in Students for a Democratic Society, Black Students for Open Admissions and the student strike for Black and ethnic studies. His work is centered around labor, education, housing access, anti-apartheid, anti-war, police misconduct, voter registration and cultural issues. He has worked with the Black Panther Party and in grassroots efforts to prevent urban displacement of Black and other working-class communities. Riley’s numerous recognitions include the 2015 Law for the People Award from the National Lawyers Guild.

Walter Riley

Walter P. Riley

Learn more about supporting SF State scholarships.

 

For more information about donating to the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, contact
Anjali Billa, Associate Vice President of University Development, at anjalibilla@sfsu.edu

Rising star: University researcher Berenice Baca achieves firsts in sea star research

With faculty support, a scholarship award-winning student expands class project into a graduate research project

It’s not often that one gets to throw starfish a birthday party. Some species — like the six-rayed sea star Leptasterias — are notoriously difficult to keep alive in the lab, making even first birthdays a rarity. So when San Francisco State University researcher Berenice Baca achieved the seemingly impossible feat of raising Leptasterias specimens for an entire year, her lab made sure to celebrate.

Baca is among the first in her field to successfully rear Leptasterias embryos to reach the one-year milestone in the lab. And to think, this project started in an undergraduate class with San Francisco State Biology Professor Sarah Cohen.

“Because of that study I started as an undergrad, I was able to grow [Leptasterias] up to a year, which is really exciting,” said Baca, who joined Cohen’s lab as an undergraduate researcher and is now an SF State master’s student. She’s been with this project for less than two years but she’s already shared her work at national and international conferences, won research awards, attended research workshops and worked with KQED to highlight these sea stars.

Baca’s work could help Leptasterias and other species feeling the impact of grave challenges. Sea stars face the constant threats of climate change and sea star wasting disease, a mysterious condition wiping out entire species. “We tend to notice or shift our attention towards certain species when it’s endangered or almost gone,” Baca explained. “We should try to address [these issues] now rather than wait until the species is almost completely gone.”

Headshot of SF State student researcher Berenice Baca
SF State student researcher Berenice Baca

Berenice Baca

Happy birthday, dear Leptasterias…

Baca studies the developmental patterns of two species of Leptasterias sea stars (Leptasterias pusilla and Leptasterias aequalis). These species reproduce via brood-fostering, which is akin to a hen sitting on her eggs. While somewhat common among other animals, it’s a rare approach among marine species. In the wild, maternal sea stars protect 50 – 1,500 embryos on their underside until their young stars are ready to be independent. Baca successfully raised these embryos to a juvenile stage in the lab without maternal care (i.e., without brooding). As part of this project, she developed protocols for this process and gleaned unique insight about Leptasterias development.

“As I was starting this project, I realized there’s no information on this, which drove me a little crazy,” Baca said, noting that the knowledge gap fueled her curiosity and determination.

Her first step was to give the sea stars a laboratory home as cold as their native habitat. Baca first raised the stars at 9 to 10 degrees Celsius in a classroom cold room before moving them to a dedicated deli fridge set at 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. Next, she needed to ensure that the stars didn’t starve. This was quite the saga, Baca explains, because the stars kept losing interest in readily available fish food. It turned out Baca’s microscopic juvenile starfish — approximately 0.2 cm in size — required live sea snails, copepods and barnacles they could hunt.

“I ended up getting these microscopic snails that required really fine tweezers to get them out of barnacles. I was doing this at 5 in the morning or very late at night because I have to correlate [my work] with the tides,” she explained.

six-rayed sea star Leptasterias

Juvenile Leptasterias less than 2 cm in size.

six-rayed sea star Leptasterias

Sea star next to a finger for scale.

six-rayed sea star Leptasterias

Sea star hunting a sea snail.

Comparable studies on Leptasterias failed to grow the early juveniles in the lab and only one known study was able to hatch these stars. Extending Leptasterias’ lifespan in the lab gave Baca the opportunity to document their development as early as eight hours to 31 days, allowing her to capture beautiful images of fertilized eggs and snapshots of intermediate stages. By day 44, her juvenile stars began taking on a familiar six-armed star shape, and by 10 months the stars were 1.3 cm or bigger and started exhibiting hallmark coloration and patterns. Sharing her work at conferences, she was heartened to hear other scientists share excitement for her work and give her words of encouragement.

Baca and the Cohen lab even worked with KQED to feature Leptasterias in a new episode of its science video series “Deep Look,” presented by PBS Digital Studios. Scroll to the end of this story to see the video, which has nearly a quarter-million views on YouTube. 

Growing up alongside her stars

Coming to SF State, Baca knew she wanted to do research, but she’s still a bit awestruck by how her research experience has evolved. When she enrolled in Cohen’s “BIOL 586GW: Marine Ecology Laboratory — GWAR,” Baca wanted research experience, but she didn’t anticipate it would lead her to pursue a master’s degree.

“It’s really nice that Sarah [Cohen] is really good at figuring out your interest and connecting you with the right people,” Baca said, explaining that Cohen encouraged her to apply for grants and scholarships, participate in conferences and attend science workshops.

Happy birthday cake and candles for the six-rayed sea star Leptasterias

Baca’s honors included the Achievement Reward for College Scientists (ARCS), Step to College and University scholarships. “That really helps. Sometimes you feel lost and having that [support] really helps in initiating your own project or research. It actually makes you feel like a scientist.”

With daily lab work, field research and conferences, being a scientist has become a big part of her life. Baca, a first-generation student, previously maintained multiple jobs and worked full-time in the fields picking blueberries and grapes to support her University education. Growing up in a small town that lacked proper science education, she had an unsatisfied desire to learn more. It’s that natural and unwavering curiosity that’s driven her throughout her research, especially when it gets hard.

“I’m really thankful for the entire Cohen lab,” Baca said, adding that Cohen’s and her lab mates’ support and encouragement have been instrumental. “I believe without them I wouldn’t have anything.”

For more information about donating to the College of Science & Engineering, contact 
Holly Fincke at hollyfincke@sfsu.edu

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