scholarship

Strengthening Health, Equity, and Workforce Pathways Across SFSU

Across the College of Health & Social Sciences, philanthropic and public investments are expanding access to education, reducing financial barriers, and preparing students for high-impact careers

A $5.3 million grant to the Master of Social Work program, and student scholarships awarded within the School of Nursing and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism (RPT) are just some of the recent highlights for the College of Health & Social Sciences.

Master of Social Work program

The Master of Social Work program was awarded a $5.3 million grant from the California Office of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI) to grow our program and keep MSW graduates working in California, and HCAI alumni are stepping into the world with degrees in hand and a lot less debt and stress thanks to $25,000 stipends that helped cover the cost of earning a master’s degree. In return, the graduates have committed to one year in a behavioral health setting, serving California’s most vulnerable populations.

Over the past few months, graduates accepted roles in settings as diverse as major hospitals, nonprofits, and even international organizations. In these impactful roles, HCAI-supported graduates are addressing mental health access, systemic inequality, child protection, housing insecurity, and more. What sets them apart is a deep understanding of both theory and practice — years of intensive coursework, internship placements, and community-based learning have prepared them to lead with empathy, strategy, and resilience.

Faculty, field instructors, and community partners have mentored this next generation of social work leaders whose success reflects the very best of what social work can be: bold, compassionate, and transformative.

Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism (RPT)

Dozens of RPT students received departmental scholarships to recognize their outstanding leadership and achievement. We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making these opportunities possible, especially those who supported the Dr. Nina Roberts Memorial Scholarship campaign, which continues RPT professor Dr. Roberts’ inspiring legacy of education and advocacy for equitable access to parks and other natural spaces.

RPT alumni continue to be an essential part of the department’s story — mentoring students, serving on advisory boards, hosting mixers, guest speaking in our classrooms and sharing job opportunities through LinkedIn and emails.

We’re also grateful for our many partners who help bring learning to life, both on- and off-campus. Collaborations with Campus Recreation, Student Affairs, Outward Bound, California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) and CalTravel continue to provide SFSU students with valuable hands-on experiences. Special thanks go to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy for offering meaningful, fully funded internships.

School of Nursing

Thanks to the generosity of donors, $138,000 was awarded to students across our nursing programs. This financial assistance helps offset the high cost of nursing education which includes scrubs, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, books and electronic learning resources, and commuting and parking costs. Donor contributions are truly appreciated by our students, as expressed by one entry-level master’s student who said, “This isn’t just about financial support — it’s about hope, encouragement and the belief that I can succeed. I will carry this generosity with me as I move forward in my education and career, striving to make a meaningful impact in every way I can.”

“This isn’t just about financial support — it’s about hope, encouragement and the belief that I can succeed. I will carry this generosity with me as I move forward in my education and career, striving to make a meaningful impact in every way I can.” —SFSU Nursing student

The School of Nursing is also grateful for its growing partnership with California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). Thanks to this collaboration, 16 SFSU pre-licensure students are able to complete their clinical training at CPMC, enabling the SoN to increase enrollment in its accelerated and traditional BSN programs. These placements have not only provided invaluable hands-on experience, but also the opportunity to interview for new graduate positions. Together, the SoN and CPMC are strengthening the nursing workforce, developing a robust nursing pipeline that’s reflective of a shared commitment to the future of compassionate, skilled care.

SFSU’s partnership with CPMC helped support a new five-month RN refresher course by providing clinical placements for the students. Sixteen licensed nurses, committed to returning to the bedside after being away from nursing for three to 19 years, were each supported by a dedicated CPMC preceptor. Thanks to this collaboration, participants are now eligible to apply for RN positions in Bay Area healthcare facilities. It’s a wonderful example of how our partnership is helping to meet the area’s nursing workforce needs.

Donate to the College of Health & Social Sciences

For more information, contact:

Dafna Kapshud

Director of Development

College of Health & Social Sciences

dkapshud@sfsu.edu

(415) 338-7112

Read more about Dafna

Opening Doors Through Legacy: Elle Gianforte’s Planned Gift to SFSU

Elle Gianforte’s bequest will create scholarships for Creative Writing students, transforming a closed door from her past into lasting opportunity for future writers

Though she never attended the University, Elle Gianforte is committed to providing opportunities for future SFSU students passionate about creative writing.

Elle Gianforte’s journey to support SFSU through a bequest has the makings of a chapter in a book about philanthropy and the human spirit, especially when you consider that neither she nor any of her family members even attended SFSU.

Gianforte is no stranger to books, having penned or co-penned more than a dozen herself thanks to the love of writing she discovered at Kean University in New Jersey, her native state. That passion, along with the thought of living in San Francisco in the late ‘60s, led her to apply to SFSU’s burgeoning Creative Writing program that quickly was gaining a reputation as one of the best in the country.

“I got into student housing, I made arrangements to have my dog with me. Everything was set,” says Gianforte, recalling how excited she was when she was accepted and making plans to attend SFSU. “And then my parents said, ‘You’re not going.’”

Gianforte’s parents, who were paying for her education, feared that the student unrest from the fall of 1968 through the spring of 1969 would not provide a safe environment for their daughter. “I was extremely disappointed,” Gianforte said. “Going to grad school was my opportunity to get out there on my own, and I was excited about being 3,000 miles away embarking on this great adventure.

“I didn’t have my own funds for tuition, and I doubt I was adult enough at the time to consider other financing options. So I set my disappointment aside and focused on finding employment.”

Determined to pursue a career in writing, Gianforte took a job at an ad agency in New York as a receptionist. Three months later she was promoted to a copywriting position, and as she says, “I never looked back.”

Gianforte’s passion lies in nonfiction. She and her first husband adopted and raised two little boys, both the offspring of drug-addicted mothers and both with the challenges that came from those early life experiences. Rasing those children became the crux of her life and motivated her to write and co-write several books on adoption.

From there she began other projects. “I’ve written books on fashion, interior design, food, and self-help. I've worked on memoirs and wrote my first children’s book in 2023. My most recent endeavor is called 52 Ways to Be Happy: From the Inside Out, and that was a very fun project to work on.”

Two years ago, Gianforte and her husband began setting up their estate plan. As she  considered where she’d like to direct a portion of her estate, Gianforte struggled to settle on an organization or cause that she felt compelled to support.

“There was nothing that truly resonated,” Gianforte said as she considered beneficiaries. “And then I thought, if I'm going to leave money to an organization, it has to really touch my heart. All of a sudden, I thought of San Francisco State. I realized that even though I couldn’t go, I could help others go.

“When my parents told me they didn't want me to go to San Francisco State, they were concerned about my safety. Although I understood that, I really felt a door close. Years later, I managed to open a different door—one that could help provide higher education to students who might not otherwise be able to pursue their dreams.”

Once her planned gift transfers to SFSU, scholarships for Creative Writing students will carry forward Gianforte’s passion for writing and helping others, giving rise to even more chapters in many more books.

Elle Gianforte

Elle Gianforte

"I thought, if I'm going to leave money to an organization, it has to really touch my heart. All of a sudden, I thought of San Francisco State. I realized that even though I couldn’t go, I could help others go.” 
—Elle Gianforte

Learn more about making a planned gift to SFSU

For more information about including SFSU in your estate plan, contact:

Thomas A. Mullaney, Esq. & Steve Kelton
Office of Planned Giving

Email: giftplan@sfsu.edu | Telephone: (415) 338-1042

Learn more about Tom & Steve

Angela Tafur, First Kirkeberg Scholar, Leads with Purpose

Angela Tafur, a geography major inspired by her Peruvian heritage, is the inaugural recipient of the Max Kirkeberg Scholarship and is expanding access to outdoor education and environmental justice at San Francisco State University

Fueled by the deep roots of her Peruvian parents who emigrated to the Bay Area and who taught her the value of connectedness to the environment, Angela Tafur is on a clear path to making her dream of community service a reality.

A native of Hayward who grew up in Castro Valley and is now a geography major at SFSU, Angela knew even before she went to college that she wanted to devote her professional energies to improving communities. As the first recipient of the Max Kirkeberg Scholarship, she is well on her way to making her mark in the lives of others, connecting them to and drawing strength and connectedness from the environment.

“I believe my deep interest in ecosystems was shaped early on by my parents’ influence,” says Angela. “As Peruvians, their connection to the natural world is rooted in a culture where nature and daily life are deeply intertwined — especially given Peru's diverse geography and rich array of ecosystems.

“My father is from the northern Peruvian Amazon, from a small town called Huambo, located about two hours from the culturally significant Andean town of Chachapoyas. Growing up, he would often share his extensive knowledge of local birds and plants with me, sparking my curiosity and appreciation for biodiversity,” Angela says. “He always referred to other living beings as if they were relatives or other people. My perspective and passion for the environment has been shaped by the traditional ways of life that my dad lived through and that long defined this region.”

"Growing up in the Bay Area, I carried with me stories from my family that instilled a deep connection to nature.” 
—Angela Tafur

Anegla’s mother grew up in the bustling capital of Lima, but became familiar with many Peruvian cultural nature stories and medicinal plant knowledge that she passed on to Angela.

“Growing up in the Bay Area, I carried with me stories from my family that instilled a deep connection to nature,” says Angela. “However, I quickly realized that the way people engaged with the outdoors in California — through camping, summer camps, or scouting — was very different from my family's perception or experiences with nature. As immigrants, neither of my parents were familiar with these modes of outdoor recreation.”

Angela recalls a special moment outdoors with her father that instilled a deep connection to nature. “I’ll never forget the moment my father tearfully hugged a redwood tree in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, in awe of its beauty and gratitude for its existence amidst historic loggings in the area,” she says. “Experiences like this made me reflect on how culture, background, and access shape our relationships with nature and the area that we visit or reside in.”

SFSU student Angela Tafur with her parents

Angela Tafur with her parents, Jose and Carmen Tafur

“I believe my deep interest in ecosystems was shaped early on by my parents’ influence. As Peruvians, their connection to the natural world is rooted in a culture where nature and daily life are deeply intertwined — especially given Peru's diverse geography and rich array of ecosystems.”
—Angela Tafur

Angela is focused on expanding environmental knowledge and increasing access to outdoor spaces. She describes these as a personal and professional calling. “I’ve experienced firsthand how nature can be a source of profound healing — helping me navigate my disability (PTSD), process trauma, and build an intimate, restorative relationship with the world around me. Spending time in outdoor spaces has also allowed me to explore and connect with my mestiza identity and indigenous Peruvian ancestry. As I have learned about the complex histories of the natural spaces I visit, I continue to reflect on how colonialism has distanced me from my ancestral language, Quechua, and from ways of life connected with nature. Being in these landscapes feels like coming back home.”

Angela is currently the president of the Sierra Nevada Alliance of Gators (SNAG), a student organization that builds community through nature and advocates for continued access to SFSU’s Sierra Nevada Field Campus (SNFC), where she fundraises efforts to help students overcome financial barriers to attend. She also works as an outdoor trip leader and is a student manager for the Gator Outdoor Adventure (GOA) program, a branch of Campus Recreation at the Mashouf Wellness Center that provides accessible hiking, backpacking, camping, and climbing trips for students, faculty, and alumni. Notably, the “Gator Wild” program led by GOA was Angela’s first experience with camping and backpacking, as well as her introduction to the SNFC, a research and education field station dedicated to building inclusive community around teaching and learning in the natural sciences, land management, art, music, and culture, offering workshops, classes, and a home base for research at nearby field sites. SNFC’s reach extends beyond the SFSU community, serving as a research and education resource for the local communities of the northern Sierra Nevada, the general public of California, and beyond. 

“I’ve experienced firsthand how nature can be a source of profound healing — helping me navigate my disability (PTSD), process trauma, and build an intimate, restorative relationship with the world around me. Spending time in outdoor spaces has also allowed me to explore and connect with my mestiza identity and indigenous Peruvian ancestry.” 
—Angela Tafur

With transportation being a challenge for SFSU students to access the field campus and other outdoor spaces, Angela utilized her roles within SNAG and GOA to organize various low- and no-cost trips and public transit trips to SNFC and various National Park sites, California State Park sites, and regional parks; showing students that accessing the outdoors without a car is not only possible but empowering. “Having seen and experienced the transformative impact of outdoor programs firsthand, I now want to help others find that connection,” Angela said. 

“I consider the work that I do a daily offering for the earth and environment around me. In highland Quechua cultures of Peru, making offerings to the Earth, known as Pachamama, is a deeply rooted indigenous tradition. It is more than just a career, it is a service I have dedicated myself to being a part of the interconnected, beautiful world that gives all of us water, sun, fire, earth, food, air. The least I can do is to give back for how the earth continues to take care of me, mirroring reciprocal and balanced relationships found across nature,” Angela says.

Prior to attending SFSU, Angela saw her interest in the environment flourish under the tutelage of a familiar SFSU face. “At Chabot College, my passion for geography was sparked by a professor — an SFSU geography and earth science alumnus (Suzanne Maher, ’09, ‘16) — who encouraged me to pursue the field,” said Angela. “From the moment I began applying to universities, I knew giving back to my community would be central to my path. That’s why I chose SFSU — to serve the Bay Area community that shaped me. I graduated with honors (from Chabot) and delivered the keynote speech at Latino Graduation Night, a defining moment as I transitioned to SFSU to earn my B.A. in geography.”

“From the moment I began applying to universities, I knew giving back to my community would be central to my path. That’s why I chose SFSU — to serve the Bay Area community that shaped me.” 
—Angela Tafur

The Kirkeberg Scholarship, established by retired SFSU professor Max Kirkeberg and his husband, Gabriel Proo, is awarded annually to an SFSU School of the Environment undergraduate or graduate student whose studies and goals align with dedication to the lived and changing environment of the Bay Area.

Kirkeberg was born in Stanton, Iowa (“the Swedish capital of Iowa”), the only child of high school teachers. He made his way to San Francisco in 1965 as he was working on his Ph.D. thesis. He joined SFSU as a professor of Urban Geography and ultimately received tenure and emeritus tenure status. His most well-known class was Geography 454: "San Francisco on Foot,” which he taught for 30 years. He loved every day as a teacher. 

Upon retirement, Kirkeberg continued teaching the class as a lecturer and offered it through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. He documented the urban geography of the San Francisco Bay Area in almost 60,000 slides taken over 50 years. His images of streets, architecture, development, landscapes, culture, and geographical highlights provide an encompassing picture of the diverse neighborhoods that make up San Francisco, as well as the features and regions beyond it in the greater Bay Area. The collection is available through DIVA, an open digital collections archive built and managed by Academic Technology at SFSU.

Kirkeberg was also the founder and leader of the St. Francis Lutheran Church and SFSU Geography Department AIDS Walk team, which ran from the 1980s to the 2020s, raising more than a million dollars for AIDS research and care, and often competing with the largest corporate teams for the top fundraising totals each year.

Learn more about supporting SFSU scholarships

For more information about donating to the College of Science & Engineering, contact:

Holly Fincke

Senior Director of Development

College of Science & Engineering

hollyfincke@sfsu.edu

(415) 338-7118

Read more about Holly

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)

College of Liberal & 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)

College of Liberal & 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

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