Spring 2022 Performance Awards
A.S. Staff Honored
Spring 2022 Performance Awards
Exemplary full- and part-time A.S. employees are recognized each semester for their hard work and dedication. A.S. recognizes the following employees:
Aztec Student Union
Jenna Bagonghasa - Operations Assistant
Nathan Lozano - Operations Assistant
Emily Jacobo - Operations Lead
Emily Meints - Operations Lead
Kate Walsh - Operations Lead
Josh Eley - Operations Lead
Annie Swierczek - ASUB Programs Assistant
Brian Turner - AV Lead Technician
Matthew Exworthy - AV Lead Technician
Daniel Mandujano - AV Technician
Blake Brownyard - Media Studio Lead Technician
Tava Kessler - Media Studio Technician
Jade Martinez - Food Pantry Lead
Business Services
Rachelle Lopez - Student Organization Accounts Assistant
Aztec Recreation
Juan Chavez - Building Services Assistant
Joseph Thompson - Competitive Sports Office Assistant
Abraham Shalash - Intramural Sports Supervisor
Alexandria Moler - Group Fitness Instructor
Ai Kuwayama - Fitness & Wellness Program Assistant
Kyle Pereira - Climbing Wall Attendant Level 2
Dalia Chavarin - Operations & Events Program Assistant
Carmen Bregoli - Member Services Representative
Courtney Giese - Member Services Lead
Melissa Asmar - Office Assistant
Olivia Busch - Aquaplex Lifeguard
Chris Roberts - Member Services Representative
Madison Lunde - Videographer
Greg Hasterok - Head Wheelchair Tennis Coach
Children’s Center
Holly Lynd - Associate Teacher
Courtney Loo - Kitchen Assistant
Audrey Goins - Assistant Teacher
Lucy Atkins - Assistant Teacher
Amber VanEnk - Associate Teater
Sarah Grace Wu - Assistant Teacher
MBAC
Isabel Rosado - Paddling Instructor
Lauren Henley - Office Assistant
Mira Torf - Dockmaster
Nicole Dorn - Sailing Instructor
Luis Navarrete - Surfing Instructor
Scholarships
A.S. awards three $500 scholarships each semester to part-time student employees based on academic performance, contributions to the SDSU and San Diego communities, financial need and length of employment. A.S. awards the following students with scholarships:
Andre Azzopardi - Aztec Student Union
Liliana Kilmer - Aztec Recreation
Brianna Mayoka - Mission Bay Aquatic Center
Congratulations!
Great Outdoors Month
Did you know that June is Great Outdoors Month? Enjoy the great outdoors with some recommendations on outdoor activities in San Diego from some of our Aztec Recreation staff.
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Cole Davis, Fitness & Wellness Supervisor:
Paddleboarding on Mission Bay
Only a 20 minute drive from SDSU's campus, Mission Bay offers a variety of opportunities for lovers of the outdoors including paddleboarding, surfing, sailing and more. I recommend visiting Mission Bay Aquatic Center, our A.S. facility, if you want to rent equipment out to use on the bay.
Walking the Loop at Lake Murray
This is an awesome place to walk or run during tourist season in San Diego, since it is mostly locals at Lake Murray. Only a 10-minute drive from SDSU's campus, Lake Murray offers a beautiful paved path along the lake that is ideal for families, dogs and exercise enthusiasts.
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Cali Tolbert, Fitness and Wellness Coordinator:
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
This 6.8 mile loop trail is one of our family's favorite walks. You don't have to complete the full 6.8 miles as you can turn back at any point and do as much or little as you would like. I love to take my dogs there to run and there are plenty of places you can venture off the path that are shaded and along the river. At the end is a really beautiful little waterfall so if you do make the full trek it's worth it to take off your shoes and dip your toes in the water before heading back! There is a $3 parking fee and small pet fee if you're parking in the lot off of Black Mountain Road or you can park elsewhere as well.
De Anza Cove in Mission Bay
Strolling along the bay is always nice! I really enjoy meeting up with a friend and taking my 7-month-old son there to stroll around with a coffee from Superbloom Coffee & Juice. They have a park there for kids and you can bring your dogs on leash for some exercise too.
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Kellen Dion, Climbing Program & Team Building Supervisor
Mountain Biking Around Mount Laguna
Mount Laguna has a decent system of single track riding with some quality dirt. If I was taking someone out there, I would ride the Big Laguna trail. It's an intermediate trail just under 10 miles long.
Trail Running at El Cajon Mountain Trail
The El Cajon Mountain Trail is 11 miles round trip with a 3,500 foot elevation gain. I like the run because it's steep and well traveled. If you are hiking, I recommend water and comfy shoes.
Shooting Archery at Balboa Parks 3D Archery Range
Balboa Park has a 3D archery range which consists of walking on a trail from one shoot to the next. It's almost like golf for archery and supposed to simulate hunting a little more. The range is very well maintained and costs only $2.
A.S. Book Club
We’re coming back!
If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.
Reading a book is one of the simplest and most effective ways to gain valuable knowledge, exercise your brain, reduce stress, visit new places and have fun. You might be wondering how you will find the time to add reading to your already busy schedule, fight the inevitable distractions or struggle to remember the last sentence your eyes just scanned over. Joining a book club can help to merge reading with the rest of what you do — if a book is 250 pages long, you only have to read about 8 pages a day to complete it in a month.
The A.S. Book Club is regrouping and getting ready to start again. Previously the club had selected a book and spent a month reading it. Then, the group met to discuss the book — who liked it, who didn’t, what they thought of the storyline, the characters, if it was hard or easy to read and if they would recommend it to a friend. There are no right or wrong answers, each member just shares their thoughts and ideas in a relaxed and fun setting. Books are selected from suggestions made by club members and in the past have included modern classics, mysteries, contemporary fiction and much more. Through these books, each member visited a small town in the American South, the deserts of Egypt, a suburban neighborhood in Sweden and an isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands.
Completing a book is an accomplishment and sharing that accomplishment with your fellow book club members feels great! Scheduled meetings incentivizes you to pick up that book and stay on track. If reading an actual book doesn’t fit into your schedule, try an audio book. You can experience everything the book has to offer, without even turning a page. Don’t want to buy a book each month? The San Diego Public Library system is a great way to find a copy of the book and it's easy and free! They also have eBooks and audio books. Visit their website to learn more at sandiego.gov/public-library.
If you are interested in joining in on the fun or have questions, please contact Quentin Skaggs, Graphics Manager at qskaggs@sdsu.edu.
A is for Art
Recap
A is for Art, a program of the SDSU Children's Center, showcases the amazing potential for creative expression by children between 6 months to 5 years of age. Special A is for Art events are held to raise awareness and funds to promote art education at the Children’s Center. Each classroom selects an artist to study and then uses that artist's painting techniques and style to create their own collaborative masterpiece.
This year the event was held in the Lee and Frank Goldberg Courtyard on Saturday, April 30. The evening was filled with lots of food, fun and fundraising. A total of 10 canvases were sold in a live auction and the highest bid was $1,300 for “Shooting Star,” a piece put together by the Elephants classroom, preschool children who are 4 years old.
"Shooting Star," created by the children in the Elephants classroom
There were also over 30 baskets donated by families and local businesses for opportunity drawings. It was a beautiful event! The grand total in funds raised was $10,675, all of which will help support program enhancements of the Children’s Center.
Michelle Zamora, Children's Center Director and auctioneer, Terrell Fletcher.
In addition, a huge congratulations to the Children’s Center staff and student employees for being named the 2021 Best Day Care by The San Diego Union Tribune!
15 Questions
Lamees Kazi
- What is your name, job title and major?
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Lamees Kazi, Graphics Assistant and majoring in Graphic Design
- Which A.S. department do you work in?
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I work in A.S. Graphics, in the Aztec Student Union. My role entails designing various flyers, posters and brochures among other things for different organizations here on campus. I have to make sure my designs communicate the messages and themes effectively.
- How long have you worked for A.S.?
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I’ve worked here for about 7 months, since October 2021.
- Is your favorite part of working for A.S.?
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I love seeing all the warm friendly faces in the office. Everyone around me is very supportive of my work and I’m very appreciative of that.
- What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
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The last movie I saw was "The Nice Guys" and it was very entertaining and funny, 5 stars!
- If you won $5 million what would you do with it?
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The smart first choice would be to hire a financial advisor but the first two things to pop into my mind would be to help out my family and then to buy a lot of Peruvian ceviche. Or hire a chef who would make it for me.
- What is your favorite dessert?
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My favorite dessert is Swedish Princess Cake. Something about the combination of the raspberry jam with the marzipan is phenomenal. It’s my mom’s go-to birthday cake choice and became mine as I grew up.
- What city would you most like to visit or visit again?
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I would like to visit Singapore again. I went in 2016 and the culture and atmosphere felt like home. The food was phenomenal and the people were all so kind. It’s tied between Singapore and my dad’s hometown of Pune in India. I haven’t been in 10 years and miss my family. You also can’t beat the authentic cuisine back home.
- If you had one free hour each day, how would you use it?
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I would use the first half to just let myself draw with no pressure for perfection and the other half to meditate.
- Would you rather build a sandcastle or a snowman?
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I’m biased in my answer as a San Diego native that I would rather build a sandcastle. It was my favorite beach activity as a child and I feel like there’s less limitations in sandcastles in comparison to snowmen. I could make a sandcastle an endless amount of times and it could look different each time whereas a snowman has a general layout you stick to.
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
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I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I was always drawing and crafting as a child. As I got older I drifted away from art but I guess I came back to it in my pursuit of a Graphic Design degree.
- What three things are always in your refrigerator?
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Milk (for my daily cup of chai), Persian cucumbers (a versatile snack) and feta cheese (I love cheese).
- When you visit the Zoo, which animal do you make sure you see?
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I love being able to see the big cats but specifically the snow leopard. It’s always breathtaking to see them in person. I love their massive fluffy tails and large paws. Their big tails look a bit disproportionate to their body, but apparently it helps them with balance.
- What’s the best concert you’ve been to and why was it so good?
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The best concert I’ve been to was actually here at Viejas Arena seeing Pierce the Veil perform when I was 13. It was all of my emo dreams come true and the energy from the performers and the crowd was amazing. Lived up to all my expectations. Have been to many concerts since but that one takes the cake.
- If you could have a superhero power what would it be?
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Being able to stop time for a bit or slow it down would be pretty cool. I think I’d use it to take naps and sleep longer.
Entertainment
CAL COAST CREDIT UNION
OPEN AIR THEATRE
Calendar
JUNE 2022
