End of Year Celebrations!
Aztec Achievement Awards
The Aztec Achievement Awards honors SDSU students, faculty, staff and community members for their excellence and contributions to San Diego State University. Congratulations to the 2023 Aztec Achievement Award winners and thank you for all you have done to better our SDSU community!
Daniel B. Nowak Outstanding Student Service Award
Wendy Verbyla
Daniel P. Goodrich Award
Ofek Suchard
Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award
Oliva Mota Segura
Shuford C. Swift Most Outstanding First-Year Student Award
Aliza Siddiqui
Dean Herbert Peiffer and Dean Margery Warmer Award
Caili Anderson
Brianna Pham
Harvey Goodfriend Award
Melyssa Gonzalez
Outstanding Alumni Award
Karina Wong
Outstanding Student Organization Award
Society for Human Resource Management
Dan R. Cornthwaite Luminary Award for Outstanding Advising Award
Dr. Zemed Berhe
Aztec Pride Award
Karla Lora-Acosta
Heart-Led Leader Award
Dr. Megan T. Ebor
Beth Bridges
Outstanding A.S. Board, Committee & Commission Award
Campus Community Commission
Outstanding College Council Award
College of Engineering Student Council
A.S. Board Member of the Year Award
Gabriel Luansing
J. Luke Wood DEI Award
J. Luke Wood
Presidential Leadership Award
Dr. Aniesha Mitchell
Raul Leon
Gabriel Luansing
Savanna Schuermann
Austin Barber
The Dr. Stephen L. & Mrs. Susan K. Weber Lamp of Leadership Award
Nick Ables
Noor Albandar
Meena Alexander
Chike Amobi
Elizabeth Bridges
Jade Camp
Amber Darling
Margot Ermer
Kaelan Ganzon
Lindsay Gaudette
Alondra Hernandez
Tito Hernandez
Tyler Hollander
Simran Jain
Sophia Koch
Raul Leon
Rebecca Marconi
Sandrien Mekany
Camila Milanes
Shawki Moore
Charlie Sallee
Lauren Samidi
Sydney Simpson
Jordan Valdez
Tina Vo
Ari Weizman
Coby Wentzler
Robson Winter
Children’s Center Celebration Update
On April 22, Montezuma Hall was filled with members of the Children’s Center community and art lovers celebrating 50+ years of the Children’s Center providing quality child care to SDSU and the community and 19 years of showcasing children’s creative talents through A is for Art!
The evening started with heartfelt memories of the Center, shared by Christina Brown, A.S. Executive Director, Robin Judd, retired Children’s Center Director, Michelle Zamora, current Children’s Center Director and Penny Hummel, retired Center Supervising Teacher and creator of “A is for Art.”
Opportunity drawings for 27 gift baskets were up for grabs, including two tickets to the upcoming Lizzo concert at Viejas Arena, deep sea fishing for two, a weekend stay on Coronado Island and much more!
Next, the live auction of paintings created by the children began with the highlight of the bidding being a masterpiece created by the children in 2005. At the 2005 A is for Art, then SDSU President, Steven Weber was outbid by a parent for a piece of art. However, he loved the artwork so much that he commissioned the children at the Center to create another piece for him of Hepner Hall to hang in his office. The piece was recently donated back to the Children’s Center and was added to the auction as a special item to celebrate the 50+ anniversary. In total, the live auction brought in over $11,000 with the entire event raising over $22,000.
Proceeds from the evening will be used to extend the Center’s outdoor environments, transforming the space and adding new possibilities and dimensions to the Center’s curriculum.
To see this year’s paintings, and to learn more about A is for Art, visit, childcare.sdsu.edu/aisforart.
Thank you to all the generous sponsors and donors, the Children’s Center’s teachers, staff, parents and families and the Union Programs and Services staff for creating an amazing space for this year’s celebration.
Executive Officer Reflections
Shawki Moore, A.S. President
What was your favorite memory in the past year?
My favorite memory was traveling to the Final Four and watching the game winning buzzer beater from Lamont Butler. I got to travel to a few places to see the team during the tournament and being a fan and watching my favorite sport, it was something I’ll never take for granted. That game winner was electrifying. I felt like I was the team’s good luck charm.
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing _____ during my term.
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing a culture shift for A.S. during my term. This year, we had 15% voter turnout and that is one of the metrics I use to see that students are involved and want to be part of our organization. Students feel like A.S. is their home and want to be at our office. That’s something I wanted to bring back to A.S. because when I was a first year student pre-COVID, that energy was one of the reasons why I wanted to be part of this organization.
If I had to describe my term in 3 words it would be…
Adaptable, exciting and eye-opening.
What is one thing you learned in A.S. that you will take into your future endeavors?
How to work in teams and how to lead people. Leadership is not about giving orders, it’s about working together and listening. One of the biggest things for me is always asking myself, “Am I a leader worth following?” So I think leadership and relationship building are the two things that I’m going to take from my time at A.S.
What are your future plans?
I plan to work for a couple of years with the ultimate goal of being a president or vice president of operations for a professional football or basketball team. Right now, I want to get some athletics experience and work at the collegiate or professional level for a few years, get my sports MBA and then off to the NFL or NBA.
________
Meena Alexander, Executive Vice President
What was your favorite memory in the past year?
My favorite memory from this year was meeting all the council members at retreat! It was nice because we got to all be in the same space after COVID. Everyone had a great time and it one of the best experiences in my role.
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing _____ during my term.
I am most proud of accomplishing creating a phenomenal culture within my role.
If I had to describe my term in three words it would be…
Productive, challenging and insightful.
What is one thing you learned in A.S. that you will take into your future endeavors?
A.S. has shed light on the idea of professionalism in different work settings.
What are your future plans?
My future plans are to take the year off and figure out what’s next. Try to plan for where my life will take me next.
________
Robson Winter, Vice President of External Relations
What was your favorite memory in the past year?
The CHESS delegation finally being able to travel to Sacramento again to meet in-person with state legislators and witnessing all the hard work that the delegation put in to effectively lobby on behalf of the student body.
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing _____ during my term.
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing the Rock the Vote campaign and getting our voter registration numbers so high that we earned recognition from the CSU and the California Secretary of State.
If I had to describe my term in three words it would be…
Energetic, engaged, and emotional (because who doesn't love alliteration?)
What is one thing you learned in A.S. that you will take into your future endeavors?
One thing I learned in A.S. is that you should never shy away from a challenge, and that you can take on anything as long as you have good people around you.
What are your future plans?
I wish I knew. I plan on working in public service for a few years and then pursuing a law degree.
________
Sophia Koch, Vice President of Financial Affairs
What was your favorite memory in the past year?
My favorite memory was laying and watching the stars at A.S. retreat while talking about our goals.
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing _____ during my term.
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing a record-breaking year of donations for Aztecs Rock Hunger.
If I had to describe my term in three words it would be…
Whirlwind, eye-opening and vibrant.
What is one thing you learned in A.S. that you will take into your future endeavors?
The connections and people you meet within your day to day are what give you purpose and find courage to push outside of your comfort zone.
What are your future plans?
Pursuing a job in the finance industry while continuing my education!
________
Sandy Mekany, Vice President of University Affairs
What was your favorite memory in the past year?
My favorite memory was our A.S. retreat at the beginning of the year. It was so fun getting to know everyone!
I am most proud of myself for accomplishing _____ during my term.
I am most proud of myself for cultivating an environment where students have a voice on our University Affairs Board.
If I had to describe my term in three words it would be…
If I had to describe my term in three words it would be exhilarating, fun and busy!
What is one thing you learned in A.S. that you will take into your future endeavors?
One thing I learned in A.S. that I will take into my future endeavors is the importance of mentorship.
What are your future plans?
I plan to study in Milan, Italy this summer and work in Washington, D.C. this fall!
APIDA Heritage Month
Since the late 1970s, May has been recognized to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) people, their heritage and their history. It is celebrated each May to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, which was made possible by Chinese laborers. This month, we amplify the experiences, contributions and achievements of the APIDA communities and honor how they have positively shaped U.S. culture and history.
Read below as some of our full-time staff reflect on what APIDA Heritage Month means to them:
Ai Kuwayama, Fitness & Wellness Supervisor
“APIDA Heritage Month is a month of appreciating my culture as a Japanese American as well as respecting the cultures of others. This month is an opportunity for me to acknowledge and respect people who have contributed historically to establish our APIDA communities in the United States. As we pay respect to our ancestors, this month also reminds me of being a role model for younger generations in the APIDA community.”
________
Vic Ly, IT Manager
“APIDA Heritage Month represents awareness for me. We learn more about those APIDA cultures that we don't often hear about. It's a time to celebrate and honor all the accomplishments that APIDA Americans have contributed.”
A.S. May Sustainability Tip
By Charlotte Roberts, A.S. Sustainability Coordinator
Did you know the County of San Diego has more small farms than any other U.S. county?1 We all need to eat food to survive and when we eat fresh, delicious produce, not only do we thrive, but so does our local community and the planet!
May A.S. Sustainability Tip:
This month, try sourcing your groceries from local and/or regenerative food operations.
When possible, support farmers markets, subscribe to affordable Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, or grow food in your own garden using organic practices. Here is a video about why organic matters.
Don’t like to cook? There are plenty of San Diego restaurants that source local produce! When you buy food sustainably, you invest in your local economy while supporting agricultural practices that are safer for farmworkers (no toxic pesticides). Plus, you are cultivating healthier soil in San Diego for generations to come!
If you would like additional information or have questions about anything listed above, don’t hesitate to email me at cmroberts@sdsu.edu!
McCarron Exemplary Service Endowed Scholarship
A.S. student employees! You are 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.
We highly encourage you to apply if qualified via Aztec Scholarships by the deadline on June 29, 2023.
Graduating Student Employees
Thank you and congratulations to all of our graduating student employees! We wish you the best in your future endeavors!
AZTEC RECREATION
- Koffie Adjalle, Member Services Representative
- Belina Aldern, Member Services Lead
Taimi Barnett, Member Services Representative
Ryan Berry, Competitive Sports Official - Owen Binckes, Member Services Representative
- Carmen Bregoli, Member Services Lead
- Rachel Browne, Member Services Representative
- Priscilla Castro, ARC Office Assistant
- Vincent Celebrado, Member Services Representative
- Bella Crank, Aquaplex Lifeguard
- Shubhendu Das, Intramural Sports Supervisor
- Jalen Dawkins, Competitive Sports Official
- Amanda Decker, Climbing Wall Attendant II
- Nick Edmunds, Member Services Representative
- Erin Figurelli, Member Services Representative
- Luke Fernandes, Competitive Sports Official
- Brooke Furtado, Member Services Representative
- Ethan Gao, Aztec Adventures Assistant
- Cierra Garza, Member Services Representative
- Christian Gomez, Competitive Sports Official
- Jarrett Gorton, Intramural Sports Supervisor
- Hannah Grenemyer, Aquaplex Lifeguard
- Amber Halai, Member Services Representative
- Emma Hembrough, Aquaplex Lifeguard
- Mitchell Henderson, Aquaplex Lifeguard
- Natasha Henmi, Aquaplex Lifeguard
- Shedrick Henry, Member Services Representative
- Gavin Hingtgen, Member Services Lead
- Jiseong Hong, Building Services Assistant
- Ian Johnson, Aquaplex Lifeguard
- Melissa Joyce, Aquaplex Member Services Representative
- Sophia Kachlik, Member Services Representative
- Leialli Kamel, Operations & Events Program Assistant
- Nathan Kesete, Competitive Sports Official
- Seiki Kumagai, Competitive Sports Official
- Andrew Laxamana, Member Services Representative
- Madison Lunde, Marketing Program Assistant
- Adrian Macias, Competitive Sports Lead
- Mateo Marquez, Member Services Representative
- Matt Mcwilliams, Aquaplex Lifeguard
- Bryanna Mendenhall, Member Services Representative
- Anndrei Miranda, Intramural Sports Supervisor
- Andres Montoya, Intramural Sports Supervisor
- Christian Nunez, Competitive Sports Official
- Francis Power, Aztec Adventures Assistant
- Gian Pinzon, Competitive Sports Official
- Andrew Rauchway, Competitive Sports Official
- Kylie Rdechor, Member Services Representative
- Zachary Register, Aztec Adventures Assistant
- Marcos Rodriguez, Climbing Wall Attendant II
- Sydnie Sambueno, Intramural Sports Supervisor
- Logan Sherman, Aquaplex Lifeguard
- Lisette Silva, Member Services Representative
- Serena Smith, Member Services Representative
- Cindy Solomon, Group Fitness Instructor
- Alina Soto, Member Services Representative
- Ash Tamimi, Member Services Lead
- Joseph Thompson, Competitive Sports Office Assistant
- Jake Vasquez, Member Services Lead
- Matt Whelpley, Climbing Wall Lead
- Danna Yunis, Group Fitness Instructor
- Josh Ziegel, Aquaplex Member Services Representative
AZTEC STUDENT UNION
- Robert Alazraqui, AV Technician
- Fernando Alcocer Corona, Maintenance Assistant
- Chike Amobi, Media Studio Technician
- Andre Azzopardi, Maintenance Lead
- Mint Bunhey, AV Technician
- Eugenio Casta, AV Technician
- Lorilyn Delostrino, Operations Lead
- Jacob Duffy, Aztec Lanes Attendant
- Bradley Fitzpatrick, AV Technician
- Abelardo Garcia, AV Technician
- Ezra Gonzalez, Maintenance Lead
- Cecilia Guzman, Aztec Lanes Lead
- Riley Hata, Operations Assistant
- Christian James, AV Technician
- Noah Jaye, Operations Lead
- Bereket Kearns, Media Studio Technician
- Logan Kuyper, AV Technician
- Gwyneth Lutovsky, Reservations Assistant
- Ella Markus, AV Technician
- Sali Marroki, Operations Assistant
- Jade Martinez, Food Pantry Lead
- Emily Meints, Operations Lead
- Michael Miner, Operations Assistant
- Rochelle Nadreau, Media Studio Technician
- Karla Navarrete, Aztec Lanes Lead
- Daniela Nunez, Media Studio Technician
- Andres Ochoa, Aztec Lanes Attendant
- Joie Pfondevida, Food Pantry Lead
- Joe Pierce, Aztec Lanes Attendant
- Bebe Piromari, Operations Lead
- Elija Pratt, Maintenance Assistant
- Bianca Ramsey, ASUB Lead Programs Assistant
- Sade Rains, Media Studio Technician
- Alan Reyes, Maintenance Assistant
- Jacqueline Rodriguez, AV Technician
- Shoh Sewell, AV Technician
- Emily Shapiro, Operations Lead
- Patrick Sullivan, Operations Assistant
- Cole Sy, Aztec Lanes Attendant
- Kendyll Thomas, Aztec Lanes Lead
- Alex Toy, Operations Assistant
- Stephen Upson, Maintenance Assistant
- Timothy Underwood, Media Studio Technician
BUSINESS SERVICES
- Melody Bathaee, Social Media Editor, The Daily Aztec
- Megan Clements, Human Resources Assistant
- Justin Cox, Sports Editor, The Daily Aztec
- Alex Dunlop, Graphics Editor, The Daily Aztec
- Christian Houser, News Editor, The Daily Aztec
- Trenten Hui, Human Resources Assistant
- Edgar Lopez Moreno, Accounts Receivable Assistant
- Danan Pachecho, General Manager, KCR College Radio
- Morgan Prickett, Sports Editor, The Daily Aztec
- Mackenzie Stafford, Multimedia Producer, The Daily Aztec
- Flower Smith, Live Producer, The Daily Aztec
- Katy Stegall, Opinion Editor, The Daily Aztec
- Paulina Trujillo, Student Organization Assistant
- Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo, Managing Editor, The Daily Aztec
CHILDREN’S CENTER
- Hennesey Aguilar, Teacher Assistant
- Carly Alesse, Teacher Assistant
- Jadyn Berkowitz, Teacher Assistant
- Miranda Core, Teacher Assistant
- Rachel Curtis, Teacher Assistant
- Amber Demarco, Teacher Assistant
- Faith Felix, Office Assistant
- Veronica Flores, Teacher Assistant
- Elizabeth Horton, Teacher Assistant
- Ana Lopez, Teacher Assistant
- Abby Loretz, Associate Teacher
- Cameron Martinez, Teacher Assistant
- Ava Matthews, Teacher Assistant
- Guadalupe Mendez, Teacher Assistant
- Cindy Miranda, Teacher Assistant
- Kelly Nguyen, Teacher Assistant
- Mary Olinger, Teacher Assistant
- Sandra Reynoso, Teacher Assistant
- Valentina Rivera, Teacher Assistant
- Lacey Roche, Office Assistant
- Jessica Rosario, Teacher Assistant
- Gage Sanders, Kitchen Assistant
- Amanda Scudder, Teacher Assistant
- Alisha Strickland, Teacher Assistant
- Amber Van Enk, Teacher Assistant
- Nicole Viallarreal, Teacher Assistant
- Sarah-Grace Wu, Teacher Assistant
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
- Meena Alexander, Executive Vice President
- Beth Bridges, Shared Governance Assistant
- Mikayla Chalios, Office Assistant
- Lamees Kazi, Graphics Assistant
- Sophia Koch, Vice President of Financial Affairs
- Becky Laurence, Lead Office Assistant
- Sandy Mekany, Vice President of University Affairs
- Shawki Moore, A.S. President
- Robson Winter, Vice President of External Relations
- Natay Yonatan, Graphics Assistant
MISSION BAY AQUATIC CENTER
- Brooke Baker, Dockmaster
- Grace Baker, Wakesports Instructor
- Parker Bender, Dockmaster
- Daniel Black, Wakesports Instructor
- Christina Burns, Paddling Instructor
- Delaney Crowe, Office Assistant
- Alexa Dietz, Wakesports Instructor
- Stefanie Dvizac, Office Assistant
- Janelle Hoganson, Office Assistant
- Braden Hooper, Dockmaster
- Fletcher Lettow, Surfing Instructor
- Kaycie Lindland, Surfing Instructor
- Camryn Lotka, Dockmaster
- Jordan Luiz, Wakesports Instructor
- Parker O'Connell, Paddling Instructor
- Lindsay Rau, Wakesports Instructor
- Samantha Speck, Office Assistant
- Cynthia Sorenson, Office Assistant
- Julia Stelzer, Paddling Instructor
- Mira Torf, Dockmaster
- Garrett Vasta, Surfing Instructor
VIEJAS ARENA
- Kaitlin Willougby, Student Administration Assistant
New A.S. Employees
Please welcome Richard and Jordan, our two newest A.S. full-time employees!
Richard Benson, HR Technician
Hello, Associated Students full-time and part-time staff! My name is Richard Benson, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new HR Technician. I have a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and previously worked as a recruiter at Aston Carter, where I gained valuable experience in full-cycle recruiting for various companies.
In addition to my professional experience, I was a collegiate track athlete at Campbell University, where I developed a strong work ethic and learned the value of teamwork. These experiences have helped shape me into the dedicated and enthusiastic professional I am today.
I am excited to bring my skills and passion for HR to the Associated Students team. I look forward to working alongside each of you and contributing to the growth and success of the organization. Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself, and I cannot wait to see what we can achieve together.
Jordan Maxwell, Aztec Student Union Assistant Director of Operations
Hello, I am a California native, born and raised in the Inland Empire. After high school, I decided to move cross-country to pursue a Bachelor's degree in communications from Worcester State University in Massachusetts. I was highly involved on campus, serving on the Student Government Association and then received a Master's of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University in Boston.
I have served on a vast array of campuses, from a small private research institution in Massachusetts to a small Catholic institution in Philadelphia before my most recent position as Assistant Director of Sykes Student Union at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. I am passionate about collaborating with colleagues and students to create memorable experiences and events in the Union and look forward to building new relationships here at San Diego State.
Outside of work, I enjoy finding new, local restaurants and being outdoors on hikes or at the beach. Quarantine taught me that I am surprisingly good at caring for houseplants and enjoy cooking new recipes for my family. I am an avid sports fan, and enjoy watching and playing basketball and football and chatting about current events in the NBA or NFL.
15 Questions
Kevin Dieschbourg
- What is your name and title?
-
Kevin Dieschbourg, Technical Services Supervisor
Kevin and his girlfriend. - Which A.S. department do you work in?
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Aztec Student Union. I am the supervisor of the Backdoor Studio as well as a helping hand for the AV department for live events in the Student Union.
- How long have you worked for A.S.?
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8 months.
- What do you like most about working for A.S.?
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The opportunity to be a part of so many different AV setups and mentoring students.
- What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
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The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Thumbs up. Just a lot of fun!
- Do you collect anything? What do you collect?
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Digimon Mini Figures. Digimon was my favorite show as a kid and it’s fun to search and collect rare figures.
- What is your favorite dessert?
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Cheesecake, because it’s the superior dessert!
- If you had to move to another country, which one would you choose?
-
Czech Republic. I got to study abroad there in 2019 and it’s such a beautiful country with really nice people.
- Do you prefer pens or pencils? Why?
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Pencils. I like having the ability to erase my writing, rather than cross it out.
- What is your favorite breakfast food?
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Breakfast? Cereal. Brinner? Pancakes and 2 eggs, over-easy.
- “Most people don’t know that I like to…
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…write and record my own songs.”
- What does your perfect burger have on it?
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The works. Cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and ketchup with a medium-cooked patty.
- If you had to sing karaoke right now, which song would you pick?
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“All The Small Things” by Blink-182. They’re my all-time favorite band, and it’s a fun one to sing.
- Would you rather speak all languages or be able to talk with animals?
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Speak all languages. I’m only fluent in English, but I know some Spanish. I would really love to be able to speak one other language fluently, so I could communicate with more people.
- What is one of your favorite things to do on the SDSU campus?
-
Eat at the different restaurants on campus.
Entertainment
VIEJAS ARENA &
CAL COAST CREDIT UNION
OPEN AIR THEATRE
Calendar
MAY 2023
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