Student Affairs + Campus Diversity
SDSU Guardian Scholars Program Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, The Guardian Scholars (GS) Program continues to demonstrate the power of resilience, compassion, and community in supporting our students. Amid significant changes surrounding housing, our staff remained steadfast in ensuring that all 134 Guardian Scholars felt supported, informed, and connected throughout every transition. Our priority never changed: providing students with stability, care, and opportunities to thrive. The Jessica P. Sarowitz Center for Guardian Scholars remains a vital hub for connection, healing, and growth. Through social programs and shared experiences, students strengthened relationships while finding a supportive space where they felt seen, valued, and understood. None of this work would be possible without the generosity of our philanthropic supporters. Your investment directly impacts our students by providing critical resources, housing support, scholarships, and opportunities that empower them to persist and succeed. On behalf of our students and staff, thank you for your commitment to the SDSU GS community and for standing alongside us in this important work.
Shareka White, M.A. Director, Office of Educational Opportunity Programs, Outreach and Success
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward Anonymous Gift Supporting our Guardian Scholars This anonymous gift provided academic scholarships for six Guardian Scholars. Students were selected from the applicant pool based on their academic achievement and overall engagement with Guardian Scholars Program resources and services, including attending Guardian Scholars monthly meetings, meeting with their academic counselor twice per semester, and checking in with Guardian Scholars staff and wellness coaches. Three of the students will graduate in 2026, and one graduating student achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.93. Sinegal Guardian Scholars Housing Fund The generous support provided through the Guardian Scholars Sinegal Housing Fund played a critical role in advancing student stability and success for Guardian Scholars during the 2025-26 academic year. Through this support, 79 Guardian Scholars were able to secure on-campus housing, ensuring students had access to safe, stable, and consistent living environments while pursuing their degrees at SDSU. Stable housing also creates opportunities for students to build stronger connections within the campus community, participate in leadership and student involvement opportunities, access academic resources more consistently, and establish routines that contribute to long-term academic achievement. By alleviating the immediate stress associated with housing instability, the fund supports both student retention and degree completion outcomes for Guardian Scholars. This support reinforces SDSU’s commitment to creating an environment where Guardian Scholars are empowered to thrive academically, socially, and personally throughout their time at the university. Betsy McCullough and James Hare Fund for Guardian Scholars The Betsy McCullough and James Hare Fund for Guardian Scholars has supported the Guardian Scholars Program by ensuring that key programs and services are available to directly support students through workshops, events, and outreach efforts in the San Diego community. Guardian Scholars selfcare supplies are a staple service provided to students at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, while remaining supplies are used throughout the academic year to help students meet their basic needs.
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience April Roque, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services Major: Public Health Guardian Scholars (GS) changed my life. I committed to SDSU at 18 with no clue how I was going to pay for college without any family support, and it made me want to give up before I even tried. When I found GS, that golden ticket felt like a miracle, and I was determined not to waste it. Navigating college with the background of a Guardian Scholar often comes with challenges that extend beyond academics. At first, I thought that I didn’t belong in a place like SDSU, but GS showed me that when I don’t have to pour everything I have into just getting by, I am capable of doing amazing things. During my time here, I got to study abroad in Zanzibar. I shadowed in a hospital, spending my free time immersed in the culture and exploring the island. My goal is to work with underserved communities while contributing to broader efforts that address health inequities. I hope to use both my personal experience and education to uplift and show others who have backgrounds like mine that success is possible and life doesn’t have to stay a fight for survival. My journey at SDSU gave me the tools and confidence to pursue those goals, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without GS.
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My journey at SDSU gave me the tools and confidence to pursue those goals, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without [Guardian Scholars].
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Student Spotlight
Audrie Hancock, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Sciences Major: Psychology The gratitude I have for the Guardian Scholars program pushed me to want to give back. Volunteering my time, engaging with fellow students, and being supportive wherever I could gave me a sense of purpose. Meeting with donors and being honest about my experiences opened up opportunities for other students to be supported through this program. Spending time with the wonderful staff reminded me time and time again that I belonged here and that I am capable of doing hard things. The connections I've established will give me support through whatever life throws at me, and the friendships I've made will last a lifetime.
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The connections I've established will give me support through whatever life throws at me, and the friendships I've made will last a lifetime.
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Student Spotlight
Antonio Alcala, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Engineering Major: Computer Engineering My time with the Guardian Scholars program has been nothing but positive, with all the support I needed to graduate from San Diego State University. Going through college, I had no support backing me up financially and emotionally. When I was accepted into the Computer Engineering program, I knew it was going to be a difficult journey with expensive costs, but the Guardian Scholars program helped me with these tremendously. I was able to live on campus with enough aid to cover my meal plan. This made the hard days seem much easier—not having to worry about how I was going to pay for another meal. On top of the financial support, I had a community I could rely on to talk about anything I wanted, whether it was about sports, how much coursework I had, or what events were crowding my packed schedule. Having this support aided my experience and allowed me to be fully prepared for the next steps after graduation. I am accepting an offer to work at Qualcomm as an Integration & Automation Engineer for the NPU software team. I’m very thankful to Guardian Scholars for aiding me through this process, and if it weren’t for them, I’m not sure I would be in the position I am today.
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I’m very thankful to Guardian Scholars for aiding me through this process, and if it weren’t for them, I’m not sure I would be in the position I am today.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Statistics of Interest Graduation Rates 78% six-year graduation rate for first-time freshmen 88% four-year graduation rate for transfer students First-Year Continuation Rates 75% for first-time freshmen 89% for transfer students Guardian Scholars Impact Since 2007, Guardian Scholars has supported 531 students. As of Spring 2026, 62% (332 students) have graduated or remain enrolled at SDSU. Recent Highlights In September 2025, we hired our new GS Coordinator, Malia Apelu, who is also an alumna of the SDSU Guardian Scholars Program. After graduating from SDSU, Malia worked at Promises2Kids supporting students from foster youth backgrounds, and now has the opportunity to provide services and enhance the program that supported her during her undergraduate journey. We are excited to have Malia on the team and look forward to strengthening the foundation of our program and team. In 2026, Guardian Scholars had its largest graduating class since its formation in 2007. Forty-two scholars earned their bachelor’s degrees with an average GPA of 3.17. Students earning a degree from the College of Sciences represented the largest group, with 15 students. The class included 46 graduating students: 42 students from the Mesa campus and 4 from the Imperial Valley campus. This group included student parents, study abroad participants, and students who began at SDSU following the return to in-person learning. Graduates will pursue careers, graduate education, military service, and other next steps.
Milestone Class
Largest graduating class yet: 46 graduates, 3.17 average GPA, and 15 College of Sciences degree earners
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Malia Apelu Title: SDSU Guardian Scholars Coordinator College: Student Affairs and Campus Diversity Achievement: For Malia Apelu (’20), SDSU became the first place she could truly call home after attending 12 schools and moving through foster care across Southern California. Thanks to the SDSU Guardian Scholars program, Malia not only earned her degree but found a community that believed in her. Her return as a professional is a benefit to the program. She shared the following: "It is truly an honor to be able to come back to my roots and serve as the Program Coordinator with the Guardian Scholars Program. This program meant everything to me as a student, as I was connected to a system of support and community that really became family to me during my time at San Diego State. I could not have imagined my success without Guardian Scholars, and to now be one of the staff supporting this program is a truly humbling experience. I am excited to continue the work and grow this program so that current and future Guardian Scholars will thrive in their time at SDSU and beyond."
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I am excited to continue the work and grow this program so that current and future Guardian Scholars will thrive in their time at SDSU and beyond.
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Featured Areas
Educational Opportunity Programs, Outreach and Success (EOPOS) This spring, EOPOS celebrated its largest graduating class to date, with 1,226 scholars earning their degrees, a powerful reflection of the program’s commitment to student success and retention. Throughout the academic year, EOPOS staff provided extensive individualized support services designed to meet students’ academic, financial, and personal needs. The program completed 5,703 counseling appointments, offering students holistic guidance related to academic planning, mental wellness, personal challenges, and campus navigation. In addition, EOPOS facilitated 773 financial aid appointments to help students better understand financial resources, maintain eligibility, and address barriers that could affect their ability to remain enrolled. Students also participated in 575 academic support and tutoring sessions that strengthened learning outcomes, reinforced classroom success, and promoted long-term academic confidence. For Guardian Scholars, these wraparound services are especially critical, as many students navigate higher education without traditional family support systems or stable financial resources. EOPOS coordinated model of care ensures that students have access to consistent advising, mentorship, academic support, and resource referrals that help foster both personal growth and degree completion. The recent hiring of a Learning Support Center Coordinator also marked an important milestone, allowing the program to become fully staffed and further strengthen the delivery of academic support services. These programs help students build community, develop academic readiness, connect with campus resources, and gain the confidence needed to successfully navigate their transition to SDSU. Collectively, these efforts demonstrate EOPOS ongoing investment in equitable student support, retention, and transformative educational outcomes.
EOP, Outreach and Success 2026 Graduation Ceremony.
Thank you for your generous support.
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