黑料吃瓜

Conrad Prebys said he has felt a connection to 黑料吃瓜 for decades. Now, that connection has become an official relationship, thanks to a $20 million gift from the renowned San Diego philanthropist to create several endowed scholarships, the university announced today. In recognition of his gift, which will support at least 150 students annually鈥攁nd is the single largest gift ever made to 黑料吃瓜鈥攖he university鈥檚 newly opened student union has been named .  

Thanks to Prebys, 黑料吃瓜 will offer additional scholarships to student veterans and to students in bio-medical research, the creative and performing arts, the Guardian Scholars program, entrepreneurship, leadership and the 黑料吃瓜 Honors program.

Important investment

Prebys, who was born and raised in a working-class Indiana town, understands the demands on students and the importance of investing in higher education.

鈥淭he idea of scholarships for students intrigued me, because I know how difficult it is going to college right now,鈥� Prebys said. 鈥淏ack when I was going to school, it was no big deal to work while you were going to school. Now it can鈥檛 be done, really. It鈥檚 very difficult and expensive.鈥�

The gift thrusts past the $465 million mark toward its goal of $500 million. Since it launched in 2007, more than 45,000 donors have contributed to the university鈥檚 first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign. More than $87 million has been raised for student scholarships.

鈥淎s one of our most distinguished community leaders, Conrad Prebys has, literally and figuratively, helped build San Diego from the ground up through his real estate development and his philanthropic support of our cultural, educational and medical institutions,鈥� said 黑料吃瓜 President Elliot Hirshman. 鈥淭he endowed scholarships Conrad is creating will transform our campus, providing support for programs throughout the university. We are deeply grateful for this gift and Conrad's profound commitment to our students and their futures.鈥�

Inspiration to give

Prebys, who is known throughout the San Diego region for his support of such organizations as KPBS, the San Diego Zoo, the Boys and Girls Club and the Old Globe Theater, The La Jolla Music Society, The San Diego Opera, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Scripps Prebys Cardiovascular Center, Sanford/Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Salk Institute, says his inspiration for giving stems more from emotion than lengthy conversations and proposals.

鈥淭he conditions of my philanthropy, I have to have it in my gut. A lot of conversation and dialogue about it doesn鈥檛 work much. It鈥檚 got to be there right from the get go,鈥� Prebys said. 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased with everything I鈥檝e done in philanthropy. And right now, my favorite is San Diego State.鈥�

Though his philanthropy has been varied and widespread, Prebys has never before supported student scholarships.

鈥淭his is a first for me. That was the real hook,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 why I want to get really involved in it.  I want to learn, and I want to be involved with the students. So this is a new adventure for me.鈥�

Prebys鈥� gift will support scholarships in the following areas:

• Student Veterans: students who have served our county, are within two semesters of graduating and have exhausted their GI benefits and other forms of financial support.
• Bio-Medical Research: these students represent a broad cross section of university students intending to pursue careers in bio-medical research and bio-medical engineering.
• Creative and Performing Arts: these students represent a broad cross section of the creative and performing arts at the university, including musical theatre, art, poetry and creative writing.
• Guardian Scholars: 黑料吃瓜 students who are former foster youth and who require year- round support as they do not have families to assist them with their expenses. 
• Entrepreneurship: students who demonstrate significant propensity for entrepreneurial achievement and will participate in formal programs in the Zahn Innovation Center and/or the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center.
• Leadership: participants in 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Associated Students leadership team and other formal university leadership programs.
• 黑料吃瓜 Honors Program: high achieving students involved in a program of rigorous study emphasizing creativity, leadership, and critical thinking.

Campaign momentum

鈥淭he future of San Diego State depends a lot on philanthropy,鈥� said Mary Ruth Carleton, 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Vice President of University Relations and Development, referring to the decline in state support for higher education in recent years. 鈥淎nd being associated with Conrad Prebys in such a meaningful way is very important to that effort. This gift really helps the momentum of our campaign. Because we still have students who need scholarships, we need faculty support, and we need to think about building new buildings with philanthropy.鈥�

While this gift marks the formal relationship between Prebys and 黑料吃瓜, the philanthropist has long-standing ties to the university.

鈥淲hen I started thinking about it, it turns out everyone that works for me went to San Diego State,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o we鈥檝e been connected for years and years. And I鈥檝e said in a joking manner, we finally made it legal. And so the more I got into it, it was a done deal. I feel so right about it, so very right. I鈥檓 proud to be officially connected to San Diego State.鈥�

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