Leadership is a skill becoming more and more natural for Kelly Nguyen, a first-generation sophomore at SDSU from Oakland, Calif. Now midway through her Aztec Experience, Kelly is the current president of Gates to Success and has landed a prestigious national scholarship through the National Institutes of Health that will allow her to conduct research alongside NIH mentors this summer.
SDSU Career Services is gearing up for the Spring Career and Internship Fair on February 18, 2016, from 10 am to 2:30 pm in Montezuma Hall. This is a great opportunity to connect with employers who are looking for students to fill a variety of positions and internship opportunities. Get the inside scoop from recruiters representing more than 85 companies, explore your career options, and maybe even land a job or internship.
One way to prepare for the Spring Career and Internship Fair is to register to participate in the "Career Fair Success" Workshop on February 11 at 2 pm, and the "Resumania" Workshop on February 16 and 17 from 1 pm to 3 pm, on Aztec Career Connection. See you there!
Aztec Nights returns for spring semester!
Got a craving? Why wait? Aztec Nights is back this spring semester, starting with a “Movie Night in Chocolate Paradise” this Thursday, January 21 from 9 pm to midnight in Montezuma Hall! Indulge your inner chocolate love to kickoff the start of spring semester, complete with a blockbuster-hit film, chocolate truffles and chocolate dipping stations, cake pops, and more.
After you’ve had your fill, take a walk through the “Winter Wonderland” on Friday, January 22 from 10 pm to 2 am along Campanile Walkway. Come play in the snow, make a snowman and enjoy hot chocolate while the DJ works their magic!
These two events are just the beginning, as Welcome Back Madness officially welcomes all Aztecs back to campus on Saturday, January 23 starting at 10 pm in Montezuma Hall. Dance the night away, compete against your friends in Laser tag and enjoy free food until 2 am! Don’t forget to bring your Red ID for entry into all Aztec Nights events.
Explore your international options
There are many places you can go to explore study abroad possibilities, but on February 2 you can see it all in one convenient location. Visit the bi-annual Study Abroad Fair from 10 am to 3 pm on Centennial Walkway. In between classes, swing by to talk with study abroad staff from various departments and offices, members of international-focused student organizations and international students excited to convince you to visit their home country. Read more on the SDSU Be International website.
Reminder: Say goodbye to crashing!
Hello, Waitlist! If you haven’t heard, crashing classes at SDSU became is a thing of the past. The Wait List eliminates add codes, so there no need to drop into a class and wait for a professor to add you. To enroll in a course that is full, log into your SDSU WebPortal and the system will automatically place you on a wait list for the course. There are no guarantees, but if a seat becomes available, you will be notified via email if you were enrolled in a course from your wait list. You can enroll in any open seats through the fifth day of classes. For more information about the Wait List and how it works, visit the SDSU Wait List site.
Need a mentor? AMP is here to help!
In need of someone who can help answer questions about your career path? Registration for the Aztec Mentor Program (AMP) will reopen on January 20 and continue through February 12. AMP connects eligible juniors, seniors and graduate students from all majors with established alumni and professionals in San Diego and nationwide in one-on-one mentorships. Offered by Career Services, AMP is a great opportunity to receive support and guidance on a variety of career-related topics including networking, interviewing and job shadowing, as well as get an insider’s perspective on your chosen industry.
After you register for AMP, save the date for the Spring 2016 Networking Event on Thursday, February 25 from 5 to 7 pm in Montezuma Hall. At this event, you will learn tips on how to make the most of this mentorship opportunity.
Feb. 12 deadline for most 2016-17 SDSU scholarships!
Did you know there are still plenty of SDSU scholarships available for admitted and enrolled students? Act now, because the next deadline cycle for scholarships — Friday, February 12 — is fast approaching! Make it easy on yourself and find scholarships using the SDSU Scholarship Search Tool, made available through the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. Here, you will find all the SDSU scholarships currently accepting applications with their individual requirements and deadlines.
Don’t forget there are also a ton of scholarship resources online available to you to help make your applications stand out. Whether you are a junior majoring in chemistry or an anthropology student, there are scholarships out there waiting for you, so be sure to apply today. New scholarships with unique deadlines are posted throughout the year, so search early and search often for SDSU scholarships.
Don’t miss these study abroad deadlines
Whether you’re looking to study abroad or fund your travel, a few upcoming deadlines may be of interest. Visit Aztecs Abroad soon to apply for either a faculty-led Spring Break program or the California State University International Program (February 1). The International Student Exchange Program (February 15) and SDSU Exchange (February 20) deadlines are also quickly approaching. Need a scholarship? Deadlines are also looming to apply for the San Diego Foundation Scholarship (February 3), and the Boren Award, for the study of less commonly taught languages, (January 28 for graduates and February 9 for undergraduates).
Apply for the Quest for the Best award
If you are an outstanding student and active on campus, the annual Quest for the Best award seeks to recognize student leaders like you! Offered through Student Life and Leadership, this Vice Presidential Student Service award will be presented at a gala banquet in April to the “best of the best” students at SDSU. Recipients are selected based on their excellence in academics, campus involvement and community service. Applications are open to enrolled SDSU students with a minimum overall 3.0 GPA, who have completed at least one year at SDSU and at least 75 units of college work.
2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the Quest for the Best Awards at San Diego State University. If you’re interested, be sure to apply when applications become available on January 22, and ask for recommendation letters early! Good luck!
Last day to register for 2016 graduation: February 2
Are you planning to graduate in May or August? It may be hard to believe, but now is the time to apply for graduation online for May/August 2016 through SDSU WebPortal. All applications are due on February 2 along with a non-refundable $55 filing fee, payable through the Student Account Services online payment system or directly to the Student Account Services office on campus. To apply for graduation through SDSU WebPortal, log in and click on the "Apply to Graduate" menu option and you’re on your way.
Plan ahead for the big day by visiting the SDSU Commencement website, which has important Commencement dates, locations and other information. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for SDSU Gradfest, which will run March 22 - 24 in Montezuma Hall. Students can pick up their cap and gown, commencement tickets, and other graduation gifts and regalia.
Hundreds of Aztecs marched to honor Dr. King
More than 350 students, faculty, staff and members of the Aztec Family marched in this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in downtown San Diego on Sunday. Each year, the parade serves to honor the legacy of one of the most prominent civil rights leaders in history — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year hundreds of people dressed in red and black walked alongside President Elliot Hirshman, Provost Chukuka S. Enwemeka, and Vice President for Student Affairs Eric Rivera to honor Dr. King and his contributions to the civil rights movement.
The university has a long history supporting Dr. King’s dream of equal opportunities for everyone. In 1964, King visited what was then San Diego State College and delivered a speech in the Open Air Theatre that pushed for the passage of legislation in an effort to counter racial prejudice and discrimination, bigotry and intolerance. SDSU commemorated the 50th anniversary of this visit by dedicating a plaque in Dr. King’s name in the university’s Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in 2014.
Save the dates: Women’s Resource Center and Pride Center open for spring
Aztecs, you are invited to an Open House celebrating to completion of the SDSU Women’s Resource Center (WRC) and The Pride Center renovation on the corner of Lindo Paseo and Campanile Drive on January 22, beginning at noon. Starting the first day of school, both of the centers will be open for students Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Fridays from 10 am to 4:30 pm.
Next month, students are also invited to a Grand Opening event for the WRC and The Pride Center on Monday, February 29 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. Take a tour of the new spaces and meet the Coordinator of the Women’s Resource Center, Jessica Nare, as well the new Pride Center Coordinator, Christopher Lujan. There will be food and refreshments, so make sure to drop by!
Learn to leverage your experience abroad
If you’ve returned from a study abroad program recently, you might be grappling with a common question: Where do I go from here? Answers will abound as SDSU hosts the annual “Lessons From Abroad” Returnee Conference on February 21. Find out how to leverage your experience and the skills you gain while abroad into graduate study or a fulfilling career. The conference will also be a great chance for networking, so bring your resume and wear business casual attire.
