Aztec Lanes
Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union
Did you have a rough day in class or at work?
Come bowl off some steam at Aztec Lanes, if you are an Aztec Recreation Member, it’s FREE.
Are you feeling competitive?
To prove your bowling skills, put together a team for one of the Aztec Lanes leagues through Aztec Recreation Intramural Sports.
Need to take your bowling game to the next level?
Enroll in one of ten ENS Bowling Classes for students — Beginning or Intermediate Level.
Planning an event?
Host your next group event at Aztec Lanes. It’s the perfect opportunity for team-building and a little healthy competition with your group. You can light up the night with black lights and disco lighting effects to make your event even more special. And what’s an event without food? Aztec Lanes is right next to Oggi's Pizza Express, what’s better than pizza & bowling! Open to all ages, they even offer bumpers, ramps and lightweight bowling balls for the little ones in your group.
Not a bowler?
How about a game of billiards or table tennis, or just relax and watch live sports on any of their big screen TVs.
arc.sdsu.edu/azteclanesGot milk?
California's Better Future Moms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The California Milk Processor Board – Got milk?Got milk? announced the California's Better Future Moms — influential mothers making a difference in their community. After reviewing numerous nominations that were submitted, a total of seven moms from major cities across California were selected, among them is SDSU Children’s Center student mom Vanessa Cardenas.
Vanessa is a positive role model to her children and to other student moms. She is an active member of her community participating in programs that encourage healthy food choices, an active lifestyle and higher education - all key elements for ensuring a better future. Got milk? honored Vanessa Cardenas and presented the SDSU Children’s Center with a monetary donation [$1000] to use to continue providing their services to other student moms like Vanessa.
Vanessa Cardenas is an example of how hard work and determination can make anything possible. The mother of two young girls, Vanessa is a full-time student at San Diego State University. Although balancing school and being a mom has been difficult, it doesn’t compare to the obstacles she faced growing up.
Vanessa and her siblings were raised in foster care due to her mother’s drug addiction. However, that did not stop her from pursuing and working towards creating the life she wanted. Now a full time student working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a Minor in Child and Family Development, her goal is to ensure a better future for herself and her children. With the help and support of SDSU’s Children's Center, Vanessa has been able to work towards this goal.
The SDSU Children’s Center offers student moms childcare while they are working towards their degree. The center also gives their children an early start to education via activities that promote physical, social and intellectual growth. Vanessa’s daughters, Audrey and Kalea, have developed their social and emotional skills at the center, where they are always welcomed with a bright smile and open arms.
Vanessa’ Own Story
My name is Vanessa and I have two beautiful girls, Audrey (5 years old) and Kalea (1 year old). I am a full time student pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Child and Family Development [at SDSU]. I have learned so much about being a parent in my Child and Family Development [classes]. I enjoy learning about the many stages children go through so that I have a better understanding of what Audrey and Kalea are facing. Children go through many social and emotional stages that I had no idea about prior to becoming a Child and Family Development minor. I also work part time on campus in a student assistant position. Many people constantly ask me how I manage to juggle life as well as being a student, employee and most of all a parent. I believe that being healthy mentally and physically play a major role in my life.
As a young child I grew up in foster care and faced many troublesome and trying times. My mother abandoned my siblings and I due to drug usage. I never had anyone to motivate me in school or teach me about morals and life. I always wondered why my life was different than all the children around me. I did not let it stop me from dreaming of a bright future. Due to not having parents I had to work at a young age and work hard for my own belongings, it made me appreciate everything in life a little more. Becoming a young single mother only made life a little more difficult for me, but I knew nothing was impossible.
I work hard every single day to show my girls that you can achieve anything you set your mind and heart to regardless of your past. You just have to truly believe in yourself and be willing to work for it. I hope to be the backbone in Audrey and Kalea’s lives. I want them to know that “mommy will always be there no matter what.” I want them to realize that education will take them far in life and it is a powerful tool.
I look forward to earning my BSW and continuing onto graduate school. I want to work at a hospital with children who are enduring difficult times. I feel that every child deserves someone to help guide them through these times. I can only imagine the impact on my life if I had someone that genuinely cared to talk to me as a child. I often felt unwanted and abandoned, I want to decrease the amount of children who go to bed feeling that they are alone. I begin with my own children every day is about them. I make sure they eat healthy food and know why they need to nourish their body with many different kinds of foods. We do activities together such as swimming, hiking, running and dancing. I feel that physical health is very important, especially in today’s society where electronics are so, mainstream. The bond I have with my children is unimaginable and unbreakable it is truly an honor to be called “mommy” by such beautiful kind-hearted girls. It is truly a blessing to have my girls so close to me at the SDSU Children’s Center. They are always excited about going to class “just like mommy.” Both Audrey and Kalea have greatly developed their social and emotional skills at the center. They are always welcomed with bright smiles and open arms. I feel at ease knowing that while I am bettering myself through education [and] my daughters are doing the same.
Congratulations Vanessa, you are truly an amazing “mommy.” And congratulations to the SDSU Children’s Center for providing an amazing place for children and mommies to thrive.
Farewell Robin
28 years of service at the Children’s Center
As we welcome Michelle Zamora the new SDSU Children’s Center Director, we say farewell to Robin Judd who is retiring after 28 years of service at the Center.
Robin began her career with Associated Students 28 years ago as a Supervising Teacher and became the Children’s Center Director in 2003 when the new Children’s Center opened. Robin's caring nature and nurturing way with children, parents and staff embodies the spirit of the entire program.
Plans are in the works to celebrate her retirement in early October. The event will be held in Robin’s favorite SDSU location — besides the Children’s Center — Aztec Lanes. Robin met her husband at the then Aztec Center Bowling & Games, where they also renewed their vows on their 30th anniversary.
Thank you Robin for your years of dedication to the Center and A.S. Best wishes as you start your adventures in retirement, we will miss you.
15 Questions
Michelle Zamora, SDSU Children’s Center Director
Here is your chance to get to know our new SDSU Children’s Center Director.
What is your name and title?
Michelle Zamora, Director
Which A.S. department do you work in? Describe your job in 25 words or less.
I work at the Children’s Center. I have the best job ever, working with an awesome team who provide quality childcare to SDSU students, faculty, staff and the community. Behind the scenes I manage the facility, budget and contracts that keeps the center afloat.
How many years have you worked for A.S.?
Officially as the director, 2 months. But for 4 years (1998-2001) while I was working on my degree I was a part-time staff at the Campus Children Center. Then again for 5 years (2005-2010) I worked as a Supervising Teacher. So, 10ish years on and off.
What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
“Jurassic World” definitely thumbs up!
What is your favorite dessert?
My favorite dessert is Crème Brulee because I love cracking the caramelized sugar on top. It also reminds me of the Filipino dessert, Leche Flan, that I grew up eating.
What city would you most like to visit or visit again?
I would love to go visit Paris and the see the Eiffel Tower. I enjoy traveling and have been to a few other countries but Paris is next on my list.
Would you rather build a sandcastle or a snowman?
I would rather build a snowman, simply because I am from San Diego and I can build sandcastles all the time. Plus I would want to sing “Do you want to Build a Snowman” from “Frozen” while I build my snowman.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’m hoping by now I am in my grown up job, but growing up I always wanted to host the TV show “Double Dare.” That didn’t work out to well for me. Nor did that show…
What type of pets do you have and what are their names?
I have a pug named Rosco, who I love dearly.
Do you like to cook and what is your specialty?
I love to cook, especially when it evolves cooking for friends and family. I don’t have a specialty, but I definitely cook from the heart, so it’s a pinch of this, then a pinch of that, so please don’t ask me for any recipes because I don’t have any.
What three things are always in your refrigerator?
Milk, carrots and tortillas. Milk, because of my daughter, carrots, because that my dog’s favorite snack and tortillas because you can pretty much wrap anything up in it.
If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?
I would love to go back in time sometime around late 1800’s. Like in the western era. I’m a big history buff and it would be neat to see our country as it was developing its roots.
“Most people don’t know that I like to…”
…sing in my car alone!
When you visit the Zoo, which animal do you make sure you see?
I always like to make sure to visit the Elephants. Growing up there was a time at the San Diego Zoo where you could ride the elephants, so I always think about that when I see elephants.
If you could be any color in a box of Crayola Crayons, what color would you be?
My favorite color is purple, so of course I’d be purple.
Entertainment
at Viejas Arena and Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Saturday, September 5, 7:30 p.m.
Australian Pink Floyd with Led Zeppelin 2
Friday, September 11, 8:00 p.m.
Brian Regan
Sunday, September 13, 7:30 p.m.
Chayanne
Saturday, September 19, 7:00 p.m.
Kevin Hart
Sunday, September 20, 7:30 p.m.
Ricky Martin
Tuesday, September 22, 7:00 p.m.
Damian Marley with Special Guests: Stephen Marley, Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley, Ghetto Youths Crew
Friday, September 25, 7:30 p.m.
Death Cab for Cutie with Best Coast
Friday, September 25, 7:30 p.m.
Clever Talks
Sunday, September 27, 7:30 p.m.
Duran Duran with Clean Bandit
Visit viejasarena.com for tickets and show details.
Visit calcoastopenairtheatre.com for tickets and show details.
Calendar
September 2015
National Play-Doh Day – a day to celebrate everyone’s favorite toy:
Inventor Joe McVicker first sold Play-Doh as wallpaper cleaner. People could remove soot and dirt from their wall coverings by simply rolling the wad of goop across the surface.
We might not have Play-Doh if it weren't for Captain Kangaroo — a children’s television show that aired from 1955 until 1984. When it was just a fledgling company with no advertising budget, inventor Joe McVicker talked his way in to visit Bob Keeshan, A.K.A. Captain Kangaroo. Although the company couldn’t pay the show outright, McVicker offered them two percent of Play-Doh sales for featuring the product once a week. Keeshan loved the compound and began featuring it three times weekly.
Since its inception, two billion cans of Play-Doh have been sold. If you took all of the Play-Doh ever made and wadded it into a giant ball, it would weigh as much as 2,000 Statues of Liberty.