Hello, and thank you to all our Guardian Scholar Supporters!
This past year has been one to rejoice in. We had the largest graduating class of 30 scholars and will welcome our largest cohort of 50+ scholars this fall! We awarded our students over $500k in scholarships and provided $175k in Basic Needs support for students this academic year. We are expanding the program and the number of students we serve and meeting more of their needs through scholarships, programming, and wellness support.
Our programming for Guardian Scholars has increased signifcantly! Our students are getting more involved, building community, and showing they truly care about the support provided. We could not do all of this work without the amazing support of our donors like you!
We look forward to opening our Jessica P. Sarowitz Center for Guardian Scholars this fall and expanding the service we continue to provide our students.
With gratitude,
Shareka White, M.A. Director, Educational Opportunity Programs, Outreach and Success Student Afairs and Campus Diversity
Changing Lives through Program Support
Jessica P. Sarowitz Center for Guardian Scholars Endowment
The Guardian Scholars program in SDSU’s Student Afairs and Campus Diversity Division serves students who are current or former foster youth, wards of the court, under legal guardianship, or unaccompanied homeless youths. Overseen by the Ofce of Educational Opportunity Programs, Outreach and Success, it supports students transitioning to, through, and beyond SDSU.
The program ofers students scholarships, help with housing, and services such as tutoring, mentoring, and both personal and academic counseling. Established in 2007, Guardian Scholars currently supports 150 SDSU students, the largest number to date.
Recently, the program received a $2.5 million gift to endow the Jessica P. Sarowitz Guardian Scholars Center in perpetuity. The generous gift will provide the program with signifcant opportunities for SDSU Guardians Scholars' abilities to succeed, including increased support for programmatic activities, student housing, scholarships, and more.
Guardian Scholars Housing Award
Philanthropic support to this fund helped support 96 of our Guardian Scholars to help dispel housing and food insecurities, allowing our students to focus on their studies, maintain mental and physical wellness, and graduate from SDSU.
We had 31 graduating students this academic year!
Daniel and Joan Roman Guardian Scholars Fund
The Daniel and Joan Roman Guardian Scholars Fund provided 31 graduates with $500 in gift cards to use for our annual Dress to Express event, which allows graduates to shop for professional attire to use for interviews and employment.
Living the Aztec Experience
Precious Letchaw, Class of 2025 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: Health and Human Sciences
Major: Social Work
Precious Letchaw, a junior, had the amazing opportunity to study abroad for the fall semester in Ghana.
With the support of a Guardian Scholars and EOP scholarship, Precious realized her dream after receiving the results of a DNA ancestry test that traced her roots back to West Africa.
As a local San Diegan from Lincoln High School, she was immersed in the culture and the community while studying at the University of Ghana.
The experience was deeply transformational for Precious, and she now feels she has a deeper sense of identity, pride, and self-confdence.
The study abroad experience in Ghana was deeply transformational for Precious.
Vanessa Villareal, Class of 2024
Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: Sciences
Major: Psychology
Vanessa Villareal, was selected to be interviewed to share her personal story of her journey to SDSU and why earning a degree was personally satisfying.
Vanessa’s journey is unique, and many obstacles could have prevented her from achieving her academic dream.
Vanessa’s mother was sentenced to 15 years shortly after giving birth to her, and her father passed away 18 months later. As a youth, Vanessa overcame drug addiction, spending two years in juvenile facilities, and becoming a mother as a teenager.
With the help of mentors and counselors and a daughter to care for, Vanessa was determined and resilient enough to turn her life around. She transferred from Mira Costa College in Fall 2022 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology this May.
In refecting about her journey to graduation, Vanessa said, “I hope that I will feel accomplished, that the smaller little girl version of me that didn't think I would amount to this, feels complete”.
“ Congratulations, Vanessa, on earning your bachelor's degree! ”
Katerina Hernandez, Class of 2025
Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: Professional Studies and Fine Arts Major: Criminal Justice
Kat Hernandez is the frst female Guardian Scholar elected President of Associated Students for 2024-2025.
As a junior, Kat decided to run after serving on the Associated Students student government and won a close election by 73 votes.
She is extremely proud of her identity as a former foster youth and hopes to spread more awareness to the general campus community during her term.
Since entering SDSU, Kat has utilized the Guardian Scholar Housing Award, which allows her to have her room and board completely paid for year-round.
Having all of her basic needs met, she has fourished at SDSU and reached the pinnacle of SDSU student leadership.
“Congratulations, Kat, on being the frst female Guardian Scholar to be elected President of Associated Students!
Celebrating Shared Success
Statistics of Interest
The Guardian Scholars Program welcomed the largest incoming cohort of 55 students since its inception. In addition, the program celebrated its largest graduating class, with 31 students earning their bachelor’s degree. The program continues to afrm that with the appropriate resources and support from university administration, faculty, staf, donors, and their peers, Guardian Scholars are very capable of maximizing their potential and achieving great success regardless of the obstacles they face as one of the most vulnerable student populations attending a 4-year university.
GS Student Demographic Breakdown
Recent Highlights
Community Programming Events
In collaboration with our student-led group, the GS Student Advisory Board, we provided the most community engagement events in program history. Adding a GS Assistant Program Coordinator last year allowed us to coordinate over 30 programs, workshops, and outreach events, an increase of approximately 200%. Examples include recreational activities such as fag football, hiking, and softball, outreach events such as visits to local community colleges and community organizations, GS Open Mic night, Creating Art with our new GS Coordinator, and various wellness workshops conducted by our Wellness Coaches.
GS For a Day
We hosted our largest audience for our annual GS for a Day event this year, with approximately 90 students and staf guests. The event was hosted from 9 am to 4 pm and included a class visit for the frst time. Participants received a holistic experience with updated information about the EOPOS department, the Guardian Scholars Program, admissions, and the SDSU campus. Our guests also attended a GS Monthly Meeting where they met our general GS student population, a workshop hosted by our EOPOS/GS Counselors, engaged with a student panel, and closed the day with a wellness activity hosted by our Wellness Coaches.
Largest Class
Largest graduating class with 31 students earning their bachelor’s degree
Largest GS Cohort
We welcomed our largest cohort in GS history with 55 students. The program continues to make headway in achieving our ultimate goal of supporting 200 students each year. With the addition of our incoming cohort, GS supported 150 students during the 2023-2024 academic year. As we continue to admit as many eligible students to Guardian Scholars for 2024-2025, we will ofer two GS Seminar courses next year, one for transfers and one for frst-year students. As our program expands to 200 students, support from donors is critical to meet all students' fnancial, housing, and wellness needs.
Helping to Build a Brighter Future
Koko Nishi, Psy D.
Title: Counseling and Psychological Services Therapist and Guardian Scholars Wellness Coach
College: Counseling and Psychological Services
Achievement: Named Faculty Honoree for 2024 Quest for the Best Winner, Ingrid Yu.
Dr. Koko Nishi has served Guardian Scholars since the collaboration between Guardian Scholars and Counseling and Psychological Services began in 2016.
Dr. Nishi supports many of our Guardian Scholars through one-on-one check-ins and in our GS Seminar courses in the fall and spring semesters.
She reminds students to strive to be the best versions of themselves as a way to encourage students to fnd growth in utilizing GS staf and resources as well as in other areas of SDSU.
Thank you, Dr. Nishi, for your dedication to our Guardian Scholars!
