One Student's Struggle Inspires Many Others

I was a re-entry student,” said Marsha. “When I started Cal State San Marcos 20 years ago, I was broke, unemployed and scared. Students in the classroom were younger than me and I hadn’t been in school for a very long time.”

Struggling financially and academically, Marsha realized that she needed to ask for help.“I pulled myself up, got connected and got more support,” she reflected. “Quitting wasn’t an option.”Marsha applied for the Ina Mae Akinson Scholarship, established by Marie Bradley in honor of her grandmother.

The scholarship, which provides funds to female students who are at least 30 years old and have experienced an interruption in their education, has the unique distinction of being the very first scholarship created at CSUSM in 1988 when the institution was not yet its own campus.

“I started setting goals and, most importantly, I believed in myself becauseMarie Bradley believed in me enough to provide me with a scholarship,” Marsha said.

Today Marsha not only has her bachelor’s degree from CSUSM but also went on to earn a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in educational leadership. As the dean of Counseling Services at Cuyamaca College she now inspires and helps other students achieve their educational and career goals.

“It’s been such a pleasure to see Marsha and realize that because of a small thing I did, she was able to achieve so much success," said Marie. "I am so proud of her."

Dreaming of Becoming a Doctor

Megan remembers parking in the dirt parking lot where the parking structure now stands and hiking all the way over to Science Hall for chemistry classes.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to go to school until I was 35 and a single mom,” she reflected, but she was determined to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.

She recalls a poignant moment when, only a few weeks into her academic career at Palomar before transferring to CSUSM, the door of academic opportunity seemed to be closing.

“I flunked my very first algebra test,” Megan said. “I was in tears in my advisor’s office—how was I going to get to medical school if I didn’t even know what an integer was?”

But similar to Marsha, Megan refused to give up. Eventually she transferred to CSUSM, got connected with resources across campus—including tutoring centers—and passed all of her hardest courses with flying colors. And, because she was also struggling financially, she applied for—and won—the Jean and W. Keith Kellogg Scholarship.

“Being selected out of a group of stellar applicants and being told, ‘we think you can hang in there, graduate and do well in your life,’ was so inspiring,” she said. “It really gave me that energy to persevere, keep studying and try my hardest.”

From that point on Megan was sailing. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in chemistry, went on to Des Moines University for medical school and completed her residency through UCLA.

Today she is the chief of family medicine for Scripps Mercy Hospital’s San Diego and Chula Vista campuses. In addition, she’s the medical director of a 24-physician medical group at Scripps Mercy Hospital, serves on the faculty for adult medicine wards at Family Health Centers of San Diego, and is a clinical preceptor for Georgetown University at Scripps Mercy Hospital.

“I believe that knowledge is the most powerful vehicle there is,” she said. “We are able to transport from one station in life to another through education—and that’s what this university is all about.”

To learn how you can make a difference in the lives of current CSUSM students so that they may become our region’s future leaders and change-makers like Marsha and Megan, contact University Advancement at 760-750-4400 or visit www.csusm.edu/giving.

Growing up in Southern California, Scott Rice fell in love with soccer at a young age. His knack for the sport and positive presence on the field were immediately felt on the CSUSM squad. As a freshman he was named MVP after leading the Cougars to their first conference title. In 2013 he was named NAIA All-American Honorable Mention and was one of the team's highest scoring athletes.

A business major, Scott is interested in a career in sports marketing but is also considering a professional career in soccer.

“It’s been tough because I’ve definitely had a lot of late nights studying or doing homework,” he said. “I’m working thirty-plus hours a week, and then I’m also playing soccer every single day and balancing 16 to 18 units every semester.”

One of NCAA Division II’s core initiatives is “Life in the Balance,” emphasizing the importance of balancing a student-athlete’s educational experience along with his or her athletic competition.

“This theme falls in line with CSUSM’s core value of developing the student component of the student-athlete,” said Director of Athletics Jennifer Milo, “We support our students’ academic pursuits because we realize that, for the majority of them, their future is dependent not on their athletic talent but on the college degree they are pursuing.”

Despite the demands on his time, Scott has maintained a 3.0 GPA in his last five semesters at CSUSM, and he isn’t alone. Nearly 50 percent of CSUSM student-athletes earned a 3.0 or better during the spring 2014 semester.

“Playing soccer here has helped me learn to multitask by focusing on school as well as soccer,” said Scott. “I’ve learned what it’s like to be a part of a team and something bigger than myself. I know that I’ll be able to advance to a career where I can work well with others and I’ll be able to balance everything that I need to do.”

Scholarships Support and the Cougar Athletic Club

As the 2013-2014 recipient of the Men’s Soccer Scholarship, Scott says a lot of stress has been alleviated, allowing him to focus on success in the classroom and on the field.

“Receiving financial aid was everything, honestly,” he said. “I don’t know if I would have been able to go to a four-year if it wasn’t for my scholarship. The fact that donors are able to help us—I thank them a lot.”

And that’s where the Cougar Athletics Club comes in. The Cougar Athletic Club is the primary fundraising arm of the Cal State San Marcos Athletics Department. Through the generosity of its members, the club is focused on providing the resources the University needs to enrich the lives of student-athletes through scholarships.

Last year, nearly 40 percent of CSUSM’s donors gave to Athletics. We invite you to join them – with one simple donation, you can help strengthen our growing athletics program, expand scholarship opportunities and ensure a winning future for student-athletes. Every gift makes a difference.

To learn more and give now, visit the Cougar Athletic Club webpage.