Fourth Annual SDSU Month
Returns With International Focus

Contact: Jason Foster
SDSU Marketing & Communications
Tel: (619) 594-2585 office; (619) 992-0772 cell
foster@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO – (Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006) – The fourth annual SDSU Month celebration, honoring San Diego State University’s “Minds that Move the World,” kicks off next week with an emphasis on SDSU’s growing international impact through the efforts of students, faculty and alumni studying, researching or working abroad.

“Since 1999, more than 450 faculty members have received international program development grants to establish academic and research programs in dozens of countries,” said SDSU Provost Nancy Marlin. “We’ve won national awards for the best study abroad program (international business) and for our success in internationalizing the campus. In this increasingly interconnected world, the global focus is vitally important for the success of our students and the San Diego region.”

Several of SDSU’s remarkable students, faculty and alumni who are working or studying abroad will be featured in “Aztec Dispatches,” a Web log site on www.sdsumonth.com in which they will provide a virtual window to their world through regular updates to their online journals.

SDSU Month, which occurs in March to commemorate the school’s founding in 1897, also features dozens of arts, academic and athletic events open to the community. Highlights include:

- A “Minds that Move the World” student sidewalk chalk art competition on Feb. 28;
- “Understanding Terrorism and Global Conflict,” a lecture series throughout March and April with experts from around the world;
- The annual President’s Diversity Scholarship Gala with keynote speaker Dave Winfield on March 3;
- A College of Business 50th birthday bash at the House of Blues March 8;
- Games from round 1 and 2 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Cox Arena March 16 and 18;
- The SDSU Alumni Association’s Montys Awards Gala March 25;
- Explore SDSU – Open House 2006 Presented by The San Diego Union-Tribune and Time Warner Cable on April 8.

There will also be special offers from local businesses and organizations to celebrate SDSU Month. One of these, the Rubio’s Aztec Meal Deal, will raise funds for the SDSU Month Scholarship Challenge, which provides financial assistance to some of SDSU’s outstanding students. From March 7 through April 17, Rubio’s will donate $1 from every Aztec Meal Deal purchased to the Scholarship Challenge. Other Scholarship Challenge partners include Cox Communications, PAETEC Communications, SDC and Time Warner Cable.

The community is also invited to enter the STA Travel Sweepstakes, in which STA Travel and SDSU are giving away a trip to New Zealand. The deadline to register for the sweepstakes is April 8.

The celebration also features a partner-supported media campaign, including television announcements running during broadcasts of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

More information on SDSU Month 2006, including details on all events and special offers, is available at www.sdsumonth.com.

SDSU Month sponsors and media partners include Allison & Partners, Associated Students, Aztec Shops, Cox Communications, The Daily Aztec, Geary Interactive, KPBS, NBC 7/39, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, San Diego Magazine, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the SDSU Alumni Association, the SDSU President’s Leadership Fund, the SDSU Research Foundation, Time Warner Cable, Univision San Diego and Univision Radio.

SDSU is the oldest and largest institution of higher education in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU offers bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 72 and doctorates in 16. SDSU’s nearly 33,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct faculty contact and an increasingly international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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