Starting Off the New Year Right!

2008-2009 A.S. Executive Officers, (from left), Tim Velasquez, Daniel "Oz" Osztreicher, James Poet, Joy Salvatin, Grant Garske.

The 2008-2009 Executive Officers have been extremely busy this summer preparing for the new academic year! This year’s Executive team is:

Returning AS President James Poet, a 23-year old senior majoring in business from San Ramon, California. He is a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and is very proud to be serving a second term as AS President.AS Executive Vice President Joy Salvatin, a 22-year old senior majoring in aerospace engineering, from Northern California. She is a proud and active member of the SDSU Ambassadors and Delta Sigma Psi.AS Vice President of External Affairs Daniel “Oz” Osztreicher, a 21-year old senior majoring in political science. He was born in Argentina and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He also a proud member of the College Area Community Council.AS Vice President of Finance, Grant Garske is a senior double majoring in history and computer science. San Diego is his hometown and Grant has many years involvement with Inter-Fraternity Council and multiple honor societies.
AS Vice President of University Affairs Tim Velasquez, is a senior majoring in Business Management and Spanish from Thousand Oaks, California. He also had the opportunity to live in Colombia. He too, is a proud member of Sigma Chi fraternity.

The Executive Officers’ top priorities going into the new year are ensuring that all the elements of the Student Fee Referendum that was passed in the spring are implemented, including:

Offering legal and financial services to students at a reduced rateMaking sustainable upgrades to AS facilitiesBeautifying the campus landscape with an Aztec Botanical GardenOffering hundreds of scholarships that will enable SDSU students to study abroadOffering more funding than ever to student organizations who want to put on special events and programming
Establishing a new SDSU tradition, Greenfest, which will be an evolution of Spring Fiesta and Azfest, a three day event intended to celebrate campus pride and educate the campus on sustainability. The third day will culminate in a campus-wide festival with booths, activities and multiple music stages.

There is a lot happening! Stay tuned for more details!

First AS Alumni Chapter Event

It has been a long time coming but the AS Alumni Chapter is finally up and running! Join the Associated Students Alumni and return to campus to reconnect with other A.S. Alums at the Aztec Center Bowling & Games Center! Current AS executive officers and graduating seniors will be in attendance. There is no cost for this kick-off event in which guests will enjoy light hors d'oeuvres while minglinging with past and present AS members.

AS Alumni Chapter Kick-off Mixer
Wednesday, September 17th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Bowling and Games Center, Aztec Center Courtyard

Parking is available in Parking Structure 6 on the east side of the University, located off Montezuma Road and East Campus Drive. The cost to park is $1 per hour with permit dispenser machines on levels 1, 2, and 3. Aztec Center Courtyard

Class Notes

1950’s

Harvey Goodfriend, Treasurer (‘55-56) died at home in La Mesa on September 2. Harvey earned a BS in Business Administration (Management) in 1957 and MS in Business Administration from (then) San Diego State College.
While AS Treasurer, Harvey pushed through the very first mandatory student fee in the CSU. In 1961 Harvey returned to SDSU in the full-time position of “Graduate Manager” of Aztec Shops and served in that capacity (with changing titles such as General Manager and CEO) for 38 years until his retirement in 1999. Until 1981, Goodfriend also served as General Manager of the Associated Students. One of his first acts in that capacity was to urge the adoption of a Student Union fee that would later fund Aztec Center, the first student union in the CSU. He taught other campuses how to get it done and there are now student unions on most of the CSU campuses. Under his management, many of the current A.S. programs were conceived and implemented. These include the Mission Bay Aquatic Center and one of the first Children’s Centers on a CSU campus. He also visualized the future Cox Arena with a study titled “New Life in an Old Stadium.”

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 21 at 11 a.m. in the Courtyard of Aztec Center at San Diego State University, under the sycamore tree he loved. Attendees are encouraged to wear Hawaiian attire.

He is survived by his wife, four children and four grandchildren. The family requests that donation can be made to:
Harvey Goodfriend Aztec Shops Scholarship A21462

Made payable to:
The Campanile Foundation
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8030

Edward W. Blessing, President (’58-’59) of Dallas, Texas, was honored at a dinner in San Diego in June. He received the “Significant Sig” Award which recognizes "individuals whose achievements have brought honor and prestige to the name of the Sigma Chi Fraternity." The fraternity only selects a few men each year. He was chosen because of his remarkable career in business, including his role as founder and managing director of Blessing Petroleum Group, LLC and his notable community service. Ed wasvery honored to have been recognized.

1990’s

Yukon Palmer, College of Business Representaive (‘95-‘96), is the Founder and President of Field Technologies, a provider of GPS fleet management systems to business fleet throughout the U.S.Celebrating 6 years in business and significant revenue growth.

Duy Nguyen, Vice President of Finance (‘99-00), has been living in Las Vegas the past four years. He earned his MBA earlier this year with UOP, and he is currently pursuing his Ph.D in Human Resource Management at Capella University. He is the Vice President of Business Development for a start-up publishing company called AsianAm Group. The company will produce the first ever truly national magazine with over 700,000 distribution for Asian American between the ages of 18-34.

2000’s

Brenda Means, A.S. Representative, has been living in Chicago for the past four years. She just penned her first urban fantasy novel! She is taking a much needed break from consulting and legal work.

Laura Goulding, Women’s Resource Representative (’04-’05) is living in Sacramento and balances her time between working for the family business and substitute teaching.

Crystal Mesa-Roberts, Native American Student Alliance Representative (’04-’05) was killed in an automobile accident on July 5. She had recently earned a master's degree in public health from San Diego State University and worked at the University of California San Diego with a program to recruit science students from disadvantaged households. Many of you may recall her profound commitment to the Native American Community as well as her passionate work on the mascot issue at SDSU. In her short time on this earth, Crystal made a difference and she will be terribly missed. She is survived by her husband and her mother and father. The family is asking donations be sent to the American Indian Recruitment Project in care The Jamul Indian Village, P.O. Box 612, Jamul, CA 91935.

Corine Caloca, College of Education Representative (’06-’07) just completed her tenure as the statewide Ethnic Minority Representative on the Student California Teachers Association's (SCTA) Executive Board and this past May, she graduated with her bilingual teaching credential from SDSU. She is now pursuing a second teaching credential and will be working towards the Special Education Mild to Moderate credential. This year she will serve as the statewide President of SCTA.

Richard Pelayo, College of Sciences Representative (’05-’06) and AB Samahan Representative (2007), completed training for Teach For America. It proved to be a challenging but rewarding experience and Richard will begin teaching this fall.

Erin Hogeboom, Women’s Resource Representative (’06-’07) is in her second year as a Peace Corps.volunteer and was able to take some time off to travel. She had exciting travels through the Amazon and over the Andes this past summer. She is truly enjoying her experience!

January 2009