Associated Students Staff Newsletter

For me, November is a time of reflection and gratitude. It’s a time to pause and give thanks to those who provide support, guidance and encouragement in my life. I am grateful for my husband, my daughters and a friend-circle that is more like family than friends.

This November, I am especially grateful for our A.S. family. Every day I come to work and am surrounded by people that genuinely care for each other and for the work that they do. It’s rare to find an organization that truly reflects its values and builds a culture of openness and kindness. I deeply appreciate those that have shared their lives with me and I cherish the relationships that have developed.

Last month I celebrated 16 years of service with A.S. Time has certainly flown by! As I reflect on these years, so many students’ faces flash through my mind. What a joy it is to impact students in this small window of time during the years they are on this campus and work at A.S. It’s amazing to watch them grow and to influence their personal and professional lives, then to watch them graduate and accomplish great things in the world! A.S. is truly a special place, and I’m so lucky to be a part of it.

Throughout the month of November, I encourage you to also pause and express gratitude for those in your life who impact you in small and big ways every day. I hope that A.S. has brought you both professional mentors and friends that are more like family in your life. Especially at this time of year, please take a moment to thank them for their influence and impact. Your words of gratitude may go further than you think!

Patty Rea,
Associate Executive Director

Native American Heritage Month is acknowledged at San Diego State University during the month of November to celebrate the histories, cultures and significant contributions of Native peoples. Native Nations have thrived on this land for thousands of years, and today, more than 575 federally recognized Tribal Nations continue to uphold their sovereignty and traditions.

Throughout November, SDSU community members are invited to participate and engage in Native American Heritage Month events, which are designed to honor and create visibility for many different Native American Nations in the United States and beyond. More information about upcoming events can be found on the Native American Heritage Month events calendar. 

All students, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin, who are interested in celebrating and participating in Native American Heritage Month events are welcome. Learn more by reading SDSU's Affirming Equal Opportunity statement.

The Aztecs Rock Hunger (ARH) campaign is back for its 15th year fighting food and nutrition insecurity to support SDSU students and the San Diego community!

ARH is an annual university-wide campaign led by A.S. with the goal of meeting the basic needs of SDSU students. With two-thirds of California State University students currently experiencing food insecurity, the need remains greater than ever.

Where Donations Go

Twenty percent of the monetary contributions to ARH are given directly to the SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT), assisting students facing housing, food insecurity or immediate financial crisis. Last year, ECRT distributed $28,000 in emergency food support to students. The remaining funds generated by ARH are used to stock the free, on-campus A.S. Food Pantry, which distributed 155,000 pounds last year, and the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, supporting 400,000 San Diegans on a monthly basis.

Join the Fun: Pie-rates for Purpose

This year, ARH is hosting Pie-rates for Purpose, giving you the opportunity to pie some of your favorite A.S. full-time employees! Stop by the Student Union Courtyard on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 12-4 p.m. to see or pie the following employees in support of ARH:

• 12-12:30 p.m.: Ryan DeLong, Aztec Student Union Director
• 2:30-3 p.m.: Kaylani Brown, Aztec Student Union Operations Coordinator
• 2:30-3 p.m.: Jeanie Maidona, Aztec Student Union Programs Coordinator
• 2:30-3 p.m.: Lorena Ramirez, A.S. Office Coordinator
• 3:30-4 p.m.: Christina Brown, A.S. Executive Director
• 3:30-4 p.m.: Brian Levett, Government Affairs Assistant Director

Donation Methods

In addition, there are four ways to participate to Aztecs Rock Hunger:

1. Online through the SDSU Online Giving Portal (tax-deductible)
2. Venmo @aztecsrock
3. At all Starbucks, eateries and markets on campus
4. At one of Aztec Rock Hunger’s fundraisers at on-campus eateries and local businesses

A $1 donation provides two meals to an SDSU student or community member in need. For more information on this year’s campaign, go to the ARH website or follow ARH on Instagram. Thank you for your support of Aztecs Rock Hunger!

Jamie Eubanks

MBAC Instructional Coordinator

My favorite fall activity is mountain biking. The trails are less dusty than in summer and not yet muddy or rutted out from winter rains. The cooler weather makes it easy to enjoy the greens and browns of the trees as I ride. Birds twitter and flit about while little animal tails disappear into the shrubs. And, I do occasionally brake for snakes. Some of my favorite spots are Otay Lakes, Rancho Peñasquitos, and Lake Hodges. Mountain biking in every sense of the word, is truly a "fall" activity for me. My miscalculations on the trails aren’t quite as forgiving as all my splashes at MBAC!

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Kaylani Brown

Student Union Operations Supervisor

Fall is my favorite season! It fills me with excitement, thanks to the delicious drinks, fun activities and overall joyful energy. With Thanksgiving arriving in November, it’s a vital reminder to slow down and appreciate the people who make life special. I love finding ways to connect with them, especially through ART. My perfect fall includes painting pumpkins from a patch, hosting a cozy sip-and-paint night, celebrating Friendsgiving, or simply crafting with my favorite people. There’s something magical about the laughter, creativity and gratitude that fills the air. This season truly inspires me to cherish simple moments, make lasting memories through art and celebrate love and friendship in all their cozy, colorful ways.

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Antonio Rivera

IT Systems Analyst

I love taking advantage of all the fall activities in San Diego, starting with a trip to a pumpkin patch. While I grew up going to Oma’s in Lakeside, this year I discovered and loved Bates Nut Farm. Going with my family to pick out pumpkins for carving is the perfect way to get into the fall spirit. For a more traditional autumn experience, I also enjoy traveling to Julian. The beautiful drive and crisp air help me embrace the season, and getting to eat some delicious slices of pie is a great bonus! My most San Diego way to enjoy the season, though, is surfing. Fall is my favorite time of year to hit the waves because the summer crowds are gone and the swell patterns regulate, creating amazing conditions.

Basketball season is here, and our men’s and women’s teams are gearing up for their final year in the Mountain West Conference at Viejas Arena! In partnership with SDSU Athletics, our A.S. employees have helped create one of the most exciting and energetic atmospheres in all of college basketball.

In celebration of National Basketball Day on Nov. 6 — honoring the birthday of the sport’s inventor, Dr. James Naismith — take a look behind the scenes to discover how our dedicated A.S. full-time employees prepare for each game day experience.

Reilly Bosworth, Viejas Arena Event Coordinator

“As the Event Coordinator, my day for an SDSU basketball game at Viejas Arena starts early. I ensure teams and staff have access for morning shootarounds, coordinating with security and SDSU Athletics to make sure everything is open and ready. From there, I oversee event setup — this includes everything from signage to preparing staff and ensuring all departments are aligned. My goal is to make sure everything is in place well before doors open, so the event runs smoothly.”

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Turran Price, Viejas Arena Custodian

“On game days, the first thing I do in the morning is clean the basketball floor to have it ready for the game. The floor must be cleaned before the visiting team has their shootaround. Then, I empty all the trash around the basketball floor and wipe down all of the media tables. I also clean the team locker rooms, training room and the first floor restroom, dust mop all of the hallways and blow leaves outside the lower level parking lot and on the outside concourse. In addition to blowing leaves, I will scrub concession stands if there are any spills from the last event. Lastly, I will make sure all areas with carpet are clean.”

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Ricky Meyer, Viejas Arena Conversion Coordinator

“Viejas Arena is magic. Patrons can leave a concert venue one night and step back into the same building the next morning, except now it's a basketball arena. Working through the night, as the rest of SDSU sleeps, my team dismantles stages, builds multi-tiered risers, moves hundreds of chairs, adjusts retractable seating and precisely locks 219 pieces of hardwood basketball floor into place. The roar of forklifts brings portable basketball hoops onto the floor, the rattle of power tools fasten bolts into place, and the crew carrying equipment in every direction all at once must look like and sound like chaos to anyone who might find themselves on the arena floor during our conversions. But it's all done with the purpose of turning your favorite artist's dressing room into the SDSU basketball team’s locker room and a concrete floor into Steve Fisher Court. As the sun rises, we hand the building off to bright-eyed Viejas Arena staff, ready to host our next exciting SDSU basketball game.”

With dedicated preparation occurring behind the scenes by A.S. staff, you don’t want to miss out on the action that basketball season will bring. Be part of the magic! As a reminder, all SDSU students, including those at any campus, part-time or full-time, undergraduate or postgraduate, are eligible to claim FREE tickets to men’s and women’s basketball games. For more information, visit the Student Tickets webpage for instructions.

To dish out some fun, we’ve mixed up a few popular fall comfort foods. Unscramble the letters and use the clues to determine how many words you can solve.

SCRAMBLES

1. N G E R E B E A N C S S E O L R E
   Clue: A creamy, baked vegetable side dish famously topped with French-fried onions.
2. S A L E M A T
   Clue: Steamed corn masa pockets, often filled with meat or cheese.
3. N F U G F I S T N G
   Clue: Savory bread cubes baked with herbs.
4. R E P C A N I E U C E S A
   Clue: The tart side dish that traditionally comes in a can or is homemade.
5. D E C I D N A Y S M A
   Clue: A sweet, syrupy side dish made from orange-fleshed tubers, often topped with marshmallows.
6. A L K T E S
   Clue: Crispy potato pancakes fried in oil.
7. S A H M D E O T A T O E S
   Clue: A creamy, buttery side dish that often reigns as the #1 favorite side.
8. A R Z O C N O L E C H E
   Clue: A creamy, cinnamon-spiced rice pudding dessert popular in Latin American traditions and often served for holidays.
9. P K N U M I E P
   Clue: An autumn/winter dessert, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.

ANSWERS

1. GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
2. TAMALES
3. STUFFING
4. CRANBERRY SAUCE
5. CANDIED YAMS
6. LATKES
7. MASHED POTATOES
8. ARROZ CON LECHE
9. PUMPKIN PIE

Applications are now open for the Fall 2025 A.S. Part-Time Student Employee Scholarships! Five - $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to A.S. student employees.

Applicants must submit a brief personal essay that answers the following prompt: 

• Share your academic and career goals.
• Provide details about how A.S. has contributed to your personal growth, professional development or career goals.
• Most importantly, reflect on your experience working at A.S. What moments or experiences stand out to you?

The essay should be two to three pages and double-spaced. Typing and grammar are considered.

To apply, submit the Fall 2025 A.S. Student Employee Scholarship Form

The application and requirements may also be accessed directly on the A.S. website. The deadline to submit applications is Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (PST).