Aztec Achievement Awards
Aztec Achievement Awards Honorees
2019
At this year’s Aztec Achievement Awards, SDSU students, faculty and staff were honored for their achievements and contributions to Associated Students, boards, committees and councils during the 2018-19 academic year.
Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!
Daniel B. Nowak Outstanding Student Service Award
Cat Kricorian
Daniel P. Goodrich Award
Lorise Diamond
Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award
Maricruz Carrillo
Shuford C. Swift Most Outstanding First-Year Student Award
Maryana Khames
Deans Herbert Peiffer and Margery Warmer Award
Matt Tornero
Angela Palencia
Harvey Goodfriend Award
Stephanie Waits Galia
Outstanding A.S. Council, Commission, Board or Committee Award
Green Love Sustainability Commission
Outstanding College Council Award
College of Engineering Student Council
A.S. Commission Member of the Year Award
Marew Yousif
Outstanding Student Organization Award
Student Nursing Association
Dan R. Cornthwaite Luminary Award for Outstanding Advising
Dr. Kristiana Cullum
Aztec Pride Award
Sophie Levi
Dean Carole Robasciotti Outstanding Community Service Learning Award
Lisa Concilio
Outstanding Alumni Award
Steven Glazer
Lamps of Leadership
Christopher A. Thomas
Nickolas C. Wohlman
Michael B. Wiafe
Ronnie J. Cravens, Jr.
Tomiosin Osinfolarin
Beck Svensson
Latrel Powell
Cat Kricorian
Anya Shutovska
Cedric Hoskins
Meagan Harms
Dalton Daggs
Chloe Bycoskie
Matt Blutinger
Sabrina Sessarego
Joseph Lucero
Alexis Alexander
Christina Alvarez
Bridget Schroepfer
Matt Tornero
Sam Emami
Warsan Artan
Kaila Cooper
Josh Miller
Nikolas Marquez
Saba Abri
Mia Panlilio
Heart-Led Leadership Awards
Dr. Adela de la Torre
Dr. J. Luke Wood
Tammy Blackburn
Saba Abri
Warsan Artan
Michelle Guerra
The Backdoor Studio
How did it get that name?
The Name
The Backdoor Studio was named to honor an important part of SDSU's history. The original Backdoor was located in the former Aztec Center (which was replaced by the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union). The space was intended to house two bowling lanes in the Aztec Center’s Bowling and Games when it opened in 1968. Instead, the students voiced their opinion and asked for a space for coffee and music. The coffee did not last, but the live music did — for more than 30 years. This space became known as The Backdoor because guests entered through the back of the venue. Despite a capacity of only 250 guests, The Backdoor hosted over 3,000 concerts featuring more than 5,500 bands and musicians, including:
The Go-Gos
An American new wave band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1978. The Go-Go's rose to fame during the early 1980s and were the first, and to date only, all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts.
Jane’s Addiction
An American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1985. The group was one of the first bands from the early 1990s alternative rock movement to gain both mainstream media attention and commercial success in the United States.
Patti Smith
An American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album “Horses.” Called the “punk poet laureate,” Smith fused rock and poetry in her work.
R.E.M.
An American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980. R.E.M. is the indie band that went on to sell out stadiums; their arrival marked the beginning of alternative rock.
Metallica
An American heavy metal band. The group’s fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship made them one of the founding bands of Thrash Metal.
The Studio
The Backdoor Studio is a creative outlet for all students at SDSU. The space is for students to express their creativity by recording and producing their art. The studio offers professional equipment and technology and is staffed by a student technician to guide equipment use.
What’s available?
- Reservable Audio and/or Video Recording Studio
- Green Screen
- Control Station with Remote Monitoring
- Sound Proof Room
- 3 Reservable Content Editing Stations
The studio is located on the first floor of the Aztec Student Union, just off of the pedestrian bridge, near the Information Center.
Finals Study Options
ATTENTION STUDENTS!
With finals fast approaching, A.S. is offering a number of places to study for those exams and several events to just take a break.
Study in the Union
The Aztec Student Union is offering extended study hours from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m., May 9 through May 14. Open rooms will be available for groups and/or quiet study, with snacks (pizza!) and drinks (coffee!). Visit the Union Information Center for all the details.
Adventure is Out There: Midnight Study Break
Aztec Nights’ Camp MSB (Midnight Study Break) will be held May 9, 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. Food, prizes and a midnight surprise will be available in the Aztec Student Union’s Montezuma Hall, with complimentary parking in Parking Structure 3. Visit aztecnights.com for more information.
Study Sessions
The Graduate Student Association will be holding Study Sessions from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on May 8 and 9. Stop by Council Chambers in the Aztec Student Union for study space and free snacks!
Music Pop Ups
For a real break from studying, ASUB will be providing several musical interludes. Enjoy violin, harp, guitar and jazz performances throughout the Aztec Student Union May 6 through May 9. For locations and times, visit aztecstudentunion.com
50 Pounds of Trash
MBAC Beach Clean Up
DID YOU KNOW?
There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean.
Mission Bay Aquatic Center and 51 community volunteers cleared over 24 pounds of trash and 26 pounds of recycling during the beach cleanup on April 14th! This was one of the most memorable beach clean-ups to date with volunteers collecting some unique and unusual items!
Within a two-mile radius, there were eight bags full of debris cleared from Mission Bay and Mission Beach. In addition, over 89 non-recyclable styrofoam pieces were cleared and 481 pieces of plastic.
Objects found during the cleanup also included:
- 46 plastic bags
- 676 cigarette butts
- 16 pieces of glass
- 298 food wrappers
- 74 straws
- 22 glass bottles
- Shopping cart
- Headphones
How long does it take for trash to decompose in the ocean?
A tin can that entered the ocean in 1986 is still decomposing in 2036
A glass bottle that entered the ocean in 1986 is going to still decompose in year 1,001,986
With these efforts, the MBAC has helped stop the spread of litter and marine debris. Prevention is the solution to a polluted ocean.
Submitted By: Mission Bay Aquatic Center
15 Questions
Dave McGrew
- What is your name and title?
David McGrew, Assistant Director of Facilities, Aztec Student Union - Which A.S. department do you work in? Describe your job in 25 words or less.
Student Union Facilities, I work with two senior MEP’s and currently 13 student staff to maintain the building systems, building’s physical integrity and overall cleanliness of the Student Union, Scripps Cottage and The Children’s Center. - How long have you worked for A.S.?I have been with as for 3.75 years. I also worked with A.S. when I was a student here.
- What is your favorite dessert?
A Snickers Bar. I was forced to go cold turkey because I have been hooked since ninth grade. My lunch in high school was a Snickers Bar, Pepsi and an orange. Caramel, chocolate and peanuts….mmmmm! - Which three people (living or dead) you would like to have dinner with?
My wife, my friend Mickey and anybody else. When Robin and Mickey get together, the humor, entertainment and laughter is out of control – anyone with us will never know this laughter again. - Would you rather build a sandcastle or a snowman?
A sand castle, I would recreate one of my favorite scenes from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Taunting the kings’ knights and hurling various things at them. - What do you want to be when you grow up?
Well, that’s never going to happen. I promised myself when I was younger that I would never grow up. I really think I am doing fine being young. - What type of pets do you have and what are their names?
4 Dogs: A Terrier named Diego, “aka a cat.” A Chi-wiener named Marley, “Just leave me alone, I’m cool.” Another Terrier named Domino, “I have issues, but you will love me anyway.” And Nilla, who looks like a miniature Greyhound, “Just let me lick your ears.”
- Do you like to cook and what is your specialty?
I love cooking. My favorite is Tri-Tip, caramelized onions and mushrooms, garlic parmesan Brussel sprouts and garlic rosemary roasted potatoes. - What three things are always in your refrigerator?
Butter (do I need to say why?). Soda, family addiction. Broccoli, it is always great with butter. - If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?
I would go back in time, about four generations when I was roaming around living free as a lion. - When you visit the Zoo, which animal do you make sure you see?
Lions – I love to visit my relatives. - What was or is your favorite subject in school?
Math – there were so many other things I liked, it’s just that math made sense to me. - Who is your favorite actor or actress?
Clint Eastwood – To me, all of his roles have been believable, yes even the spaghetti westerns and the movies he has directed really drew me in. - What do you like most about working for A.S.?
I truly believe that I have been able to be real, honest and silly with my co-workers. This makes each day at work creative, challenging and fun. I wouldn’t ask for anything else.
Entertainment
VIEJAS ARENA &
CAL COAST CREDIT UNION
OPEN AIR THEATRE
Calendar
MAY 2019
