Gift in Action
Students | Learning Environment | Faculty
Providing Superior Educational Experiences
Growing up in Chula Vista, Vanesa Arredondo knew she’d earn her college diploma. As one of three children raised by a hard-working, single Mom, the importance of a higher education was emphasized in her household. Now Vanesa, Class of 2007, is pursuing her dreams at SDSU, where she majors in liberal studies in preparation for a career as an elementary school teacher.
While Vanesa was accepted to three schools within the University of California system, she chose to enroll at SDSU because she felt our curriculum and environment better suited her aspirations. “As soon as I came onto campus, it was clear that San Diego State was a diverse community that offered more opportunities to become involved in campus life,” Vanesa said. “I really believed that SDSU could offer me a more dynamic and comprehensive college experience than other universities.”
Vanesa was concerned about her ability to take advantage of the opportunities SDSU offered when she also needed to finance the cost of her education. “I applied for roughly 40 scholarships because I wanted to be involved on campus and within our community. I was incredibly lucky to be selected as one of the recipients for the Conrad Klement Memorial Scholarship, and now I have fewer worries and can work less—which really motivates me to keep my grades up and stay focused on school,” Vanesa said.
The Klement Scholarship, designed to cover tuition, fees, books and on-campus room and board for accomplished, involved and financially deserving students, was established in 1999 with a $1.2 million bequest from Conrad Klement. Klement, a retired quality control inspector for Convair who possessed a fascination for aviation, bee-keeping and wood working, never attended college, but he always believed that education was the great equalizer.
According to Kathy Rahilly, one of his three children, “Dad was very proud that his children graduated from SDSU—he felt that our degrees helped us obtain good jobs, which enabled us to buy homes and provide a good life for our families,” said Kathy. “By establishing a scholarship fund at the university, he knew he could make a difference by supporting a diverse group of worthy students who were trying to help themselves, but desperately needed an extra push to attain their degree.”
Vanesa has proven herself to be precisely the caliber of student Klement envisioned assisting. To immerse herself in student life and meet new people, Vanesa is now involved with a number of organizations on campus including the Freshman Leadership Connection, which mentors incoming students by showing them how to get involved and teaching them leadership skills and Aztec P.R.I.D.E. (Philanthropic Role in Development and Education), a student organization that supports the Office of the President at University Advancement events by promoting SDSU to the community. What’s more, Vanesa is a member of SDSU’s Cheer squad, where she offers undying school spirit in support of Aztec athletic teams. “I love SDSU,” Vanesa exclaimed, “It’s important to give back to the university that has made my college experience so fulfilling.”
For Klement’s children, being a part of the selection process for their father’s scholarship is incredibly fulfilling. “We reminisce about special family moments while we honor Dad’s memory. Not only do we have a great time reading the applications, but it’s also rewarding to know that his legacy will live on,” reflected Kathy. “Supporting dynamic students like Vanesa would make our father very happy.”
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Devotion to their Alma Mater:
The Golds Support SDSU’s BioScience Center
When Alan and Debbie Gold first met, among the things they had in common was a shared love of San Diego and their alma mater, San Diego State University. Fast-forward 20 years. The married couple believes their education provided the foundation for Alan’s business success as founder of BioMed Realty Trust, a New York Stock Exchange-traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that leases real estate to the life sciences industry. That’s why the couple decided to deepen their connection with SDSU by becoming naming donors of the BioScience Center’s auditorium.
“Alan and I are committed to supporting higher education and our community. We believe the BioScience Center is a critical resource for San Diego, especially given the increasing competition in the biotechnology market,” Debbie Gold said. “The work being done there also has world-wide implications. We view this gift, and our support of Aztec athletics, as doing our small part to help SDSU realize its potential.”
The SDSU BioScience Center blends research and scholarship to seek solutions for critical human issues. Undergraduate and graduate students work side-by-side with professors, conducting life-changing research on topics such as how chronic infections contribute to the major health issues of our time, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The center features state-of-the-art research laboratories and serves as an incubator for emerging technologies, developing the resources necessary for biotech start-ups to succeed.
BioScience Center Director Roberta Gottlieb, M.D., applauds the Gold’s commitment to enhancing research and training opportunities for students. “Their generous gift provides SDSU faculty and students with a state-of-the-art auditorium and an extraordinary learning environment,” Gottlieb said.
Gottlieb worked with fellow SDSU faculty members Mark Sussman, Ph.D. (team leader) and Christopher Glembotski, Ph.D., to secure a $9.5 million program project grant from the National Institutes of Health to conduct a five-year study examining how protecting mitochondria, the cell’s energy center, can preserve heart cells during heart attacks. This study is an example of the vital research that will be conducted in the BioScience Center.
According to Stanley Maloy, Ph.D., dean of the College of Sciences, the Golds have long been one of the BioScience Center’s greatest champions, taking a leadership role in seeing the project to fruition. “Alan and Debbie have encouraged others to become engaged. We’re incredibly grateful for their dedication and support,” said Maloy.
The Alan and Debbie Gold Auditorium for the Life Sciences will be used to host lectures, seminars, distinguished speaker series and symposia on life sciences-related research. As a focal point for activities within the BioScience Center, it will also be used to educate the community about key public health concerns including heart disease prevention, drug-resistant bacterial infections and therapeutic responses to potential acts of bioterrorism.
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Endowing the Future
More than ocean breezes attracted Ken Walsh, Ph.D. to San Diego to head the new Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) Program at SDSU’s College of Engineering. "There’s such a strong sense of community in San Diego," said Walsh. "Most people in San Diego embrace SDSU as ‘their’ university, and the building industry has embraced this program so strongly. I saw the value of being part of a program with such a close connection to the community."
In the mid 1990s, the San Diego Chapter of Associated General Contractors (AGC) initiated discussions with SDSU regarding their industry’s need for managers with a solid engineering and business management education. Together AGC and SDSU devised a solution, resulting in a partnership between the two organizations. To date they have raised more than $1.5 million through AGC member companies to launch the CEM program and endow its director, ensuring the recruitment of sought-after talent such as Walsh to develop and run the program. One AGC member, Roel Construction, made a leadership pledge of $500,000 to drive the program’s development into high gear.
"The building community of San Diego is always looking for young and talented people who want to pursue careers in construction and engineering," said Kevin Elliott, president of Roel Construction. "We relish the idea of finding homegrown San Diego-educated quality talent. Under the leadership of Dr. Walsh, we’re excited about the caliber of graduates SDSU will produce. It is also personally gratifying that SDSU, my alma mater, and Roel are partnering to satisfy the needs of our industry."
This engagement between SDSU and the community is what brought Walsh from the Del Web School of Construction Management at Arizona State University, currently the largest program in the U.S. "The construction industry is such a huge and vibrant part of San Diego, providing more than $3 billion annually to the local economy," Walsh said. "So many people are already aware of the program due to the enthusiasm of industry partners."
Fully staffed, the program will eventually employ four full-time faculty, and accommodate 200 undergraduate students and a graduate program supporting industry research. Students are able to pursue a degree in either construction engineering or construction management, and the program will be certified by both the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).
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