CONTACT: Jason Foster
SDSU Marketing & Communications
(619) 594-2585, Pager (619) 620-1184
foster@mail.sdsu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDSU Month to Honor Impact of Alumni, Students, Faculty
Celebration includes events, promotions throughout March 2003

SAN DIEGO, Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - San Diego State University plans to paint the county red - and black - in March 2003 with a monthlong celebration to highlight the accomplishments of its alumni, students and faculty, as well as their enormous impact on the San Diego region.

"San Diego State University has a relationship with the community that's unparalleled by any other institution in the region. We hope SDSU Month helps bring this full picture to light," SDSU President Stephen L. Weber said during a press conference this morning at the Aztec Athletics Center.

SDSU Month will feature a series of special events on campus and around San Diego, as well as promotions at entertainment, cultural and business venues around the county.

"Our graduates include famous athletes and astronauts, and thousands of the region's teachers, nurses, engineers, and business and civic leaders," Weber said. "Our faculty pursue innovation in areas from education to biotechnology to the arts, and their projects share the common theme of enhancing lives in the community. San Diego can justly take pride in the works of SDSU's past, present and future scholars and students."

The city and county of San Diego, along with the U.S. Congress, have issued proclamations declaring March 2003 to be SDSU Month. March is significant to SDSU because the San Diego Normal School, which later evolved into SDSU, was founded on March 13, 1897.

Cornerstone events of SDSU Month will include the 31st annual Montys Awards Gala to honor alumni, the 14th Annual Venture Challenge business plan competition sponsored by SDSU's Entrepreneurial Management Center, an Athletics Day, Arts (un)Plugged, a series of performances and showcases integrating SDSU's arts and science disciplines, and a solo concert by world-renown classical guitarist Ricardo Iznaola. SDSU Month will also feature other activities throughout March such as lectures, cultural events and more.

Students, faculty, alumni and the entire San Diego community will also have the opportunity in the coming weeks to receive an SDSU Month card, which will entitle them to discounts and other benefits at businesses and destinations around the county during SDSU Month.

"There's so much substance to the relationship between SDSU and San Diego that you can't reflect it with an honorary day, or even a week," said Ron Roberts, chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and a SDSU alumnus. "There's more than a century of history, and one out of every seven people in the county who holds a college degree attended SDSU. When you add that the county also has tens of thousands of current students and their parents, current and former employees, donors, sports fans and others who share some close affiliation with this university, you have a strong thread running through the county's population that ties the school and the region together and makes them inseparable."

Sponsors and promotional partners of SDSU Month include US Bank, Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill, Legoland, the Balboa Park Museum Association, the Little Italy Merchants Association, Apple Computer Inc., Aztec Shops, Coca-Cola, Associated Students, Inc., the SDSU College of Extended Studies and Westfield Shoppingtowns. More will be added between now and March.

Media Partners include The San Diego Union-Tribune, NBC 7/39, KPBS, San Diego Magazine, Cox Communications and Clear Channel Communications.
Information about SDSU Month is available online at www.sdsumonth.com. SDSU launched the web site today and will update it regularly as new events, promotions and sponsors are secured.

For more information on SDSU Month or how to get an SDSU Month card once they are available, visit www.sdsumonth.com, e-mail info@sdsumonth.com or call (619) 594-7085.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78 areas, master's degrees in 62 areas and doctorates in 14. SDSU's more than 33,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information log on to www.sdsu.edu.