I hope everyone is making the most of the extra daylight after Daylight Savings, whether that means getting outside more, squeezing in a midday stroll (I try to walk daily at lunchtime—come join me!) or just pretending it’s summer already. Personally, I’ll take any excuse to enjoy the sunshine!
As we enter the final stretch of the semester, it’s a great time to reflect on the work our student leaders have done in pursuit of their SEA (Safety, Equity, and Accessibility) goals set earlier this year. Their dedication to these initiatives has made a lasting impact, and I’m excited to see how their efforts continue to shape the A.S. community.
One of the highlights this semester was Vote-a-Pollooza, a two-day polling station event in the Student Union aimed at boosting student engagement and voter turnout during A.S. elections week. It was great to see so many students show up by voting for their student leaders. I appreciate everyone who helped make it a success!
On a personal note, I’m especially excited for longer days because it means more opportunities for my family (my husband and two boys, ages 4 and 6) to “chase the sunset”—our family’s way of saying we’re heading to the beach for ice cream in time for to watch the sun go down. It’s a small tradition that brings us joy, and I hope you all find time to enjoy the moments that matter most to you this season.
Wishing you a strong finish to the semester!
Best,
Olivera Jovanovic Director of Government Affairs
Olivera and her family.
A is for Art: The Elephants and Dan
The SDSU Children’s Center’s A is for Art program showcases the amazing potential for creative expression by children between 6 months to 5 years old. This year’s fundraising event, taking place on April 26, at 6 p.m in the Student Union Courtyard, will feature a live auction of 11 paintings created by the children, opportunity drawings, hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
In preparation for the upcoming exhibition, each classroom has selected an inspiring artist to study and they then use that artist's painting techniques and style to create their own collaborative masterpiece. The inspiring artists are from various backgrounds, cultures and age groups.
Dylan Grant, Amanda Grant’s son, and classmates sketching during their Zoom meetings with artist Dan Miller.
Master Teacher, Gabby Prichett, reached out to Dan Miller, the artist the Elephant Classroom has selected to study — the Elephants are 3 and 4-year-olds. Dan is an artist who has been working at the Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California for more than 15 years. The art center fosters creative expression for populations that are typically denied access to artmaking tools and facilities. Diagnosed with autism, Dan’s use of language is non-normative and limited, but his artwork uses words and numbers, in layers, creating beautiful and interesting shapes and patterns. He works primarily with pencil, pen and felt-tip pen on paper, but at times, he also includes acrylics to add color and texture to his work.
Dan’s well-known work is included in the permanent collections of major museums, such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City), the Museum of Modern Art (New York City) and Centre Pompidou (Paris).
Gabby set up a Zoom meeting between the Elephants and Dan, so that the children could meet him and learn more about him. During the meeting, the children asked questions and watched as Dan created one of his original works of art. Gabby provided the children with clipboards, paper and pens, so that they could create right along with him. Through their interaction with Dan, the children were inspired to go back into the classroom and begin their own group painting.
The children from the Elephants classroom during their meeting with their A is for Art inspiring artist.
Over the 21 years that A is for Art has taken place, children at the Center have studied many artists and have used an array of mediums — from acrylics to oil pastels, ink to watercolors and markers to crayons. Sometimes, the tools and methods have been unconventional, using cups to pour a paint and glue mixture onto the canvas or using toy cars that have been rolled in paint and then driven on the canvas. More traditional methods have also been used — paint rollers, brushes, fingers and sponges — to apply a variety of paints, each producing their own unique texture.
Not only do the children learn about art and artists, but they learn to share and work as a team. Each classroom creates one 24” by 36” painting, with every child helping in the process. The results are truly wonderful.
A is for Art is an adult-only event that celebrates the children’s art and creativity. Friends, families and supporters can purchase tickets for $25 at childcare.sdsu.edu/aisforart.
A is for Art celebrates children’s art and creativity.
SWANA Heritage Month
April marks the annual Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Month at San Diego State University and coincides with the National Arab American Heritage Month. This heritage month aims to increase awareness about the history, cultures, experiences, contributions and resiliency of the SWANA community.
The SDSU Center for Intercultural Relations, in collaboration with student organizations and community partners, plan educational and celebratory programming and invite faculty, staff and students to participate in the annual series of events. All students, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin, who are interested in celebrating and participating in SWANA Heritage Month events are welcome.
MENA Mind Matters: Mental Health with Shireen Tuesday, April 8, 2 - 3 p.m.
MENA Lounge Grand Opening Wednesday, April 9, 12 - 2:30 p.m.
Middle Eastern Medical Milestones Thursday, April 10, 2 - 3:30 p.m.
SWANA: Solidarity Through Sadaqah Tuesday, April 15, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
SWANA Solidarity: Humanitarian Action for Change Monday, April 21, 5 - 7 p.m.
Taste of the Middle East Wednesday, April 23, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
The High Atlas Mountain Range, located in Morocco, is the highest in North Africa.
Chili Cook Off Recap
Another year, another successful Chili Cook Off! Thank you to everyone who came to the Chili Cook Off and a special thank you to everyone who participated in the competition!
Congratulations to our winning teams:
Chefs Choice and Most Creative Display:
ITS Beyblades Blazing Hot Chili (Business Services) Jonathan McGrew, Antonio Rivera and JD Obedicen
Three-time Chili Cook-Off winners: IT!
People's Choice:
Viejasalicious Chili (Viejas Arena) June Barreras, Kyle Morita and Reilly Bosworth
The Viejas Arena team taking the win for People’s Choice on their home court.
The newbies of the 2025 A.S. Chili Cook Off: Sweet & Feisty!
And if you're craving more chili, thank you to ITS Beyblades Blazing Hot Chili for sharing their winning recipe!
Ingredients
For the Base:
Beef short ribs and oxtail
About 2 tbsp of canola, olive or vegetable oil
A small yellow onion, diced
Cloves of garlic, minced
Canned crushed tomatoes
A couple cups of beef broth
Lime or lemon juice
Adobo sauce from chipotle peppers (or some of the peppers themselves)
Hot sauce
Blue agave
For the Seasoning:
Granulated sugar
Cocoa powder
Ancho chili powder
Cumin
Salt
Smoked hot paprika
Ground black pepper
Oregano
Honey (to taste)
Shredded pepper jack cheese (for topping)
Toppings:
Oyster Crackers
Milk
Hawaiian Rolls
Extra Cheese
Instructions
Over the Burner:
Start by heating your oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Season the ribs and oxtail as desired.
Sear the meat on the hot skillet (about 2 minutes on each side until lightly brown and crispy).
Transfer the meat from the skillet to the slow cooker.
Add the diced onions and minced garlic to sauté in the same skillet and continue stirring. Let everything cook for about 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned and softened.
Take the skillet off heat and add 1/4 cup of beef broth to the skillet.
Deglaze the pan by using a spatula scraping off any meat stuck to the skillet.
Transfer the onion, garlic and remaining skillet contents into the slow cooker.
In the Crockpot/Slow Cooker:
Add base ingredients by pouring in the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, blue agave, hot sauce, oil, adobo sauce/peppers and a squeeze of lime or lemon juice. Stir together.
Next, add all the seasonings (except for the cheese) to the slow cooker. This includes the granulated sugar, cocoa powder, ancho chili powder, cumin, salt, smoked hot paprika, ground pepper, oregano, honey and more hot sauce.
Stir everything together to combine
Cover the slow cooker and cook the mixture on low for 7-9 hours. Check the flavor close to the 7th hour, and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Final Touches:
When cooked for desired time, carefully remove the beef short ribs and oxtail from the slow cooker.
Meat should be tender enough to easily shred with a fork. The oxtail may be a bit trickier, but it will shred as well with some extra effort.
Discard the bones once the meat has been shredded. Further shred meat as desired.
Place the shredded meat back into the slow cooker. Stir everything well to combine, and taste for seasoning and heat. Add additional salt, pepper or hot sauce as needed.
Sprinkle a thin layer of shredded pepper jack cheese on top of the meat, allowing it to melt and create a top layer.
Enjoy!
Sibling Sidekicks
by Christina Goergen
April 10 is National Siblings Day, a day dedicated to honoring the unique and enduring bond between brothers and sisters. Speaking of siblings, I want to share a bit about my sister and me. My journey at Associated Students started back in 2018 as a Member Services Representative at the Aztec Recreation Center. In 2020, I received my degree in business marketing and by 2023, I found myself back at Aztec Recreation as the Marketing Coordinator. This step felt so natural, as I was fortunate to apply my degree to a place that not only became so important to me during college, but also sparked my passion for fitness and wellness.
Fast forward another year, and my younger sister, Andonia, a business management fourth-year, decided to join the team. Andonia was first exposed to SDSU when she visited and stayed with me during my time here as a student. She knew she wanted to attend SDSU and was thrilled when she was accepted.
Christina and Andonia enjoy growing professionally and personally alongside one another.
Earlier in her senior year in 2024, we heard that the ARC Admin Office Assistant position opened up, and I encouraged her to apply. At this point, I had already had about a year under my belt as a full-time staff member, and I thought this position would be great for her. Plus, I knew that working with Dawn Dinardo, Aztec Recreation Office Coordinator, and the incredible staff would provide her with a great opportunity.
I didn't expect just how much I'd enjoy working with Andonia. It is amazing to grow together personally and professionally. It is also comical that our workspaces are so close together. Andonia and I have the chance to meet for morning workouts at the ARC before starting our work days, and we even take our lunches together.
As Andonia completes her final year at SDSU, her time with A.S. will soon come to a close. I am grateful for the amount of time we have been able to spend together this past year and for the opportunity she had to experience working with Aztec Recreation. I will always value this special chapter in our lives and the memories we created while working together.
Attention student employees! Two scholarships are available this Spring semester. Please refer to each scholarship's details below for additional information, including eligibility and application procedures:
Spring 2025 A.S. Part-Time Student Employee Scholarships
Applications are now open for the Spring 2025 A.S. Part-Time Student Employee Scholarships! Three $500 scholarships will be awarded to A.S. part-time employees.
Applicants must complete the application and submit an essay that answers the following prompt:
The essay should briefly provide information about the employee, and their academic and career goals. The essay should focus on how working at A.S. has contributed to their personal and/or professional development in order to enable them to reach these goals.
The application and requirements may also be accessed directly on the A.S. website. The deadline to submit applications is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
A.S. student employees are also eligible to apply for the McCarron Exemplary Service Endowed Scholarship! The McCarron Exemplary Service Endowed Scholarship is a $1,500 scholarship awarded to the A.S. student employee who best exemplifies the service ideals of A.S. through exceptional performance and is a contributing member of the SDSU community. Established in 2014, this scholarship is a generous annual gift from Tom & Virginia McCarron that is awarded in the spring semester each year.
All applicants must answer this specific essay prompt:
Submit a 500 word essay describing how your employment at Associated Students has contributed to your personal success as an SDSU student and helped you to make an impact on the SDSU campus/community.
If you meet the qualifications, we highly encourage you to apply via Aztec Scholarships by Friday, April 4, 2025.
A.S. Student Employee Survey - We want to hear from you!
Associated Students is interested in hearing feedback from student employees. We are interested in how your job has helped you learn skills related to your success now and in the future. Your input will help us develop training for your personal and professional growth.
Please take the time to complete this 5-minute student employee survey. Your input is valued and all responses will remain confidential.
Upon completion, you can enter for an opportunity drawing to receive a bookstore store gift card!
This survey is available now until April 27, 2025.
National Pickleball Month
Pickleball is sweeping the nation, and San Diego is no exception! This fun, easy-to-learn sport combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, making it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels. April is National Pickleball Month by USA Pickleball, a month to celebrate the growing popularity of the sport and encourage participation through events and activities.
Aztec Recreation not only recognizes the popularity of the sport amongst members, but also among staff. The AR team gets together a couple of times throughout the year as an opportunity to bond and stay active. Below you will find some suggestions on where to get started, as well as some tips from some of the Aztec Recreation team!
Recommended Pickleball Spots in San Diego:
Barnes Tennis Center: A court reservation is $15 an hour for one court of four players.
The Hub: This place is a fun spot in East County to reserve a court with some friends and hang out. They have a clubhouse where you can enjoy beverages while playing.
Gallagher Square at Petco Park: These courts are open for open/drop-in play. There are a few courts dedicated to more social play and a couple dedicated to more competitive play. A calendar and general policies/info about the courts are located online.
The Loews Hotel Coronado: Serve up the perfect family day with a game of pickleball on one of eight courts. Visit the pool concierge to reserve a court and equipment. Pickleball courts are available seasonally, from May – August.
Del Cerro Tennis/Pickleball Courts: For those closer to SDSU, this is a solid option for individuals looking for challenge courts, social and full court hourly reservations.
You can also download Pickleheads from the app store, which allows you to find games and courts all throughout San Diego from public recreational courts to private reservable courts.
Getting Started - Equipment and Advice:
For those looking to purchase some equipment, Cole Davis, Aztec Recreation's Fitness & Wellness Coordinator, recommends going with Amazon's overall choice. He mentions he has played with many different paddles, and the skill of the player holding the paddle tends to be a greater determinant of success as there is minimal difference between a $40 and $200 paddle for recreational use. Nathan Wolf, Aztec Recreation Center's Services & Operations Manager added that, similar to Cole, he purchased the Amazon overall pick starter 2-pack of paddles about a year ago. He also picked up a carbon fiber paddle on Amazon for about $40 and liked the carbon fiber over the plastic paddle.
Both Nathan and Cole would suggest checking out pickleball Volo leagues if you are interested in adding some competition into your schedule. Their leagues range from recreational, social leagues to more intermediate, competitive leagues for those in need of more competition.
New A.S. Employees
Hi everyone! My name is Andrew Boskovich, and I recently got hired as the Instructional Supervisor at Mission Bay Aquatic Center. I graduated from SDSU with a mechanical engineering degree in May of 2024, but I started working at the Aquatic Center part time in March of 2022. During my first day of training in March, a co-worker pointed to a sailboat that was out on the water and said, “That’s your new boss on his lunch break," which is exactly when I realized I would want to stay at MBAC for a long time.
I still remember walking through the Student Union my sophomore year and seeing the digital screen that read, "Wakeboard for credit!” I grew up wakeboarding and boating with my family, so it sounded like a dream to get college credit for it. After the first few classes, I knew I had to apply to try and get a job at MBAC. I was very excited when I first got hired and then after working for a year, I became a part-time supervisor. I then continued to learn and grow and was fortunate enough to get this new full-time role.
When I am not working or playing at MBAC, I am either outdoors or with my friends. I enjoy dirt bike riding, snowboarding and woodworking when I have the time. I am very excited to be a part of A.S. and hope to see everyone at Mission Bay Aquatic Center for a class.
Andrew Boskovich, Instructional Supervisor, MBAC
15 Questions
Dakotah Behrendt
What is your name, job title, and major?
My name is Dakotah Behrendt, and I am the A.S. Sustainability Assistant. My major is Nursing with a minor in Religious Studies!
Which A.S. department do you work in?
I work within Aztec Recreation as a part of the sustainability program area. My job is to assist A.S. Sustainability Coordinator, Charlotte Roberts, in optimizing resource use, waste management, energy efficiency, educational programs and other opportunities!
How long have you worked for A.S.?
I have worked for A.S. since the summer of 2024, which is about 8-9 months now. I am the first to hold this position and cannot wait to see who will take over after my graduation!
What is your favorite part of working for A.S.?
My favorite part about working for A.S. is the opportunity to serve the SDSU student community! I love being able to learn with my peers while guiding them to achieve their goals, especially in relation to the A.S. Green Love Sustainability Commission that my role often coincides with.
What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
The last movie I watched was called “Race.” It’s about Jesse Owens and his successes and obstacles leading up to the 1939 Berlin Olympic Games. Overall, I give it a thumbs up as it is such an important story to appreciate and time in history to reflect on.
There is a free, round-trip shuttle to Mars. The catch: it will take one year of your life to go, visit, and come back. Are you in?
I am 100% in. One year is nothing compared to the time I (hopefully) still have left, and I plan to bring along the people closest to me! Everything else can wait.
If you had to move to another country, which one would you choose?
I would choose either Spain or Switzerland! Both of these countries seem to have such a great sense of community, wellness and sustainability. Plus, I love the food, nature and ambiance there!
Would you rather be a superhero or the world’s best chef?
I would definitely rather be a superhero! Although chefs are amazing, I feel like the possibilities are endless as a superhero (and plus I could have superpowers)!
What is your favorite book?
I can’t pick just one, but any psychological thrillers or suspenseful books are the best in my opinion!
If you could start a charity, what would it be for?
If I could, I would start a charity to prevent houselessness and support the growing houseless population here in San Diego (or anywhere else)! I think this is such an important topic to address and could have such a huge positive impact on our community, sustainability, health/wellness, economic system and much more!
Do you like to cook and what is your specialty?
I do!! One of my favorite things to make as a college student and sustainability advocate is minestrone soup. It is decently healthy, easy to make and is perfect for tossing almost any leftover veggies into without messing up the flavor!
If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?
This is a really hard question! I think it would be so cool to visit the world in the past to try to prevent a tragedy like the sinking of the Titanic or the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. Similarly to my other answers, I don’t think I can pick just one!
“Most people don’t know that I like to…
… make art in any form! I love photography, crochet, painting, music, writing, etc. — although I wouldn’t say that I am very good!”
Would you rather speak all languages or be able to talk with animals?
This is actually a hard choice for me! I think I would rather be able to speak all languages, since it is mostly us humans (and not other animals) who need to work on our communication to come together. If I spoke all languages, I could try to help with that!
Which of your teachers is/was most memorable?
I really do feel like all of my teachers had an impact on me, but if I had to choose just one, it would be Professor Catherine Panlilio. She has always been so encouraging and supportive of me and I have worked closely with her since my sophomore year! She has taught me so much about nursing, but also about life and handling hard times with grace.
