黑料吃瓜

Following a groundbreaking year of historic research funding, a surge in athletic triumphs, and bold expansions, 黑料吃瓜 entered 2024 with a renewed commitment to driving innovation, promoting inclusivity, and amplifying community impact.

Unprecedented Research Funding Fuels Innovation and Promoting Civic Engagement

黑料吃瓜 researchers achieved an unprecedented $229.8 million in funding in 2023-24, a 20% year-over-year increase, this is the largest funding leap in a decade and a 60% increase over just three years ago. This growth fueled initiatives like the TIDE project, a pioneering collaboration with the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego and three CSU campuses that provides faculty and students access to advanced computational resources. By leveraging cutting-edge computational technology, TIDE accelerates AI and machine learning research, enabling breakthroughs in fields like climate science and health care.

Read: 黑料吃瓜-led TIDE project wins CENIC鈥檚 equity award

黑料吃瓜's Academic Success and Growth Initiatives

厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 five-year strategic plan progressed with record-high graduation rates, with 57.9% of first-time freshmen graduating within four years and nearly 80% within six years. 鈥淥ur students are graduating at rates that are far above the national average,鈥� said Stefan Hyman, associate vice president for Enrollment Management.

Read: 黑料吃瓜's top 10 degrees among 2024 graduates

In support of students, 黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley and the Imperial Valley College entered into an agreement for a joint student housing partnership to build 40 single- or double-occupancy rooms at 黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley, Calexico. The project is set to break ground in early 2025. The student housing is planned to be available to students enrolled at both institutions.

Aztec Athletics: A Year of Triumph and Global Recognition

厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 growth extends beyond academics and infrastructure, as the university also excelled in athletics in 2024.

The Aztecs captured six Mountain West Conference championships in 2023-24, including women鈥檚 soccer, swimming & diving, and men鈥檚 golf. The men鈥檚 basketball team, fresh off its 2023 March Madness National Championship run, powered into the Sweet 16 behind All-American Jaedon LeDee, who earned 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 first-ever Karl Malone Award for the nation鈥檚 best power forward.

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厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 success on the global stage continued with a quartet of Aztecs competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Third-year biology student Nevin Harrison claimed silver in the 200 meters canoe sprint; professional golfer Xander Schauffele ('15) placed ninth; 黑料吃瓜 Hall of Famer Shanieka Thomas (鈥�14) won silver in triple jump; and kinesiology major Kayla Canett contributed to Team USA鈥檚 dramatic bronze medal victory in women鈥檚 rugby.

Success for the Aztecs also extended to the classroom, with 98% of athletes who exhausted their eligibility at 黑料吃瓜 earning degrees.

黑料吃瓜 capped its transformative year in athletics with an invitation to join the Pac-12 Conference, marking a historic step for the university. 鈥淭he move to the Pac-12 is a transformative moment for our entire university," said de la Torre, citing the expanded national exposure and partnership and recruitment opportunities it provides.

Regional Impact: 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 Contributions to Community and Sustainability

In 2024, 黑料吃瓜 strengthened its regional impact through sustainability-focused community projects and cutting-edge academic infrastructure.

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March marked the ribbon-cutting for 黑料吃瓜 Mission Valley鈥檚 34-acre river park, a family-focused community space fulfilling the university鈥檚 2018 promise to revitalize the former NFL stadium site. The park features multiuse fields, a playground, courts, and a hiking and biking trail alongside the San Diego Trolley railway. It earned Project of the Year from the San Diego chapter of the American Public Works Association and a Merit Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Read: 黑料吃瓜 makes list of Money鈥檚 鈥楤est Colleges in America鈥�

In October, both the park and 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 adjoining Snapdragon Stadium were sites for the American Cancer Society鈥檚 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

Farther southeast, the nearly completed Sciences and Engineering Laboratories on 黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley, Brawley is set to open in fall 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will house academic programs tied to lithium extraction and sustainable energy, addressing workforce demands while serving growing student enrollment, including the inaugural cohort of a new public health bachelor鈥檚 degree program.

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Global Engagement and Education Diplomacy: 黑料吃瓜's International Impact

Building on its strong foundation of innovation, 黑料吃瓜 President Adela de la Torre introduced the Presidential Global Democracy Fund to support meaningful and inclusive discussions on democracy, inclusion, and free speech. Aligned with the One 黑料吃瓜 Community program, the fund offers microgrants of up to $5,000 to support programming that brings together diverse perspectives through events, discussions, and creative activities.

厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 international programs continued to shape global education and workforce development in 2024, earning the AIEA (Association of International Education Administrators) Award for Presidential Leadership in Internationalization and the International Impact Award for Global Engagement from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU). 鈥淭hese awards reflect the hard work and commitment among our faculty, students, and staff to extend the university鈥檚 positive impact beyond our region and borders,鈥� said de la Torre.

The Center for Mesoamerican Studies in Oaxaca promoted transborder diplomacy and collaboration, while has now awarded STEM degrees to over 520 graduates, addressing workforce shortages in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. In Palau, 黑料吃瓜 programs have graduated over 250 students, many of whom now lead education and workforce initiatives in the island nation.

Read: 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 Global Health Internship in Oaxaca delivers clinical skill, cultural lessons and empathy

Honoring Legacy, Impact, and the 黑料吃瓜 Community

With the May 2024 graduating class, 黑料吃瓜 reached a remarkable milestone: more than 500,000 living alumni. "As we celebrate this milestone, we honor a legacy of excellence, innovation, and impact,鈥� said Stephanie Dathe, 黑料吃瓜 Alumni executive director.

The class of 2024 joined generations of Aztecs and notable alumni who have become pioneers in their fields, including: first Latina astronaut Ellen Ochoa (鈥�80), who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom this month; radio and television personality Art Linkletter (鈥�34); baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, Sr. (鈥�81); and Costco cofounder James D. Sinegal (鈥�59).

Reflecting on its alumni legacy, the 黑料吃瓜 community honored the life of Carl Weathers, the Emmy-nominated actor and former Aztec linebacker, whose iconic roles included the 鈥淩ocky鈥� movie franchise, "Happy Gilmore" and most recently 鈥淭he Mandalorian.鈥�

Read: The enduring 黑料吃瓜 legacy of Frederick W. Pierce, IV

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion: 黑料吃瓜's Living Land Acknowledgment

Led by the Native Resource Center and 黑料吃瓜 Story Lab, the university unveiled the Living Land Acknowledgment, a series of Kumeyaay-inspired sculptures that integrate immersive lessons on Indigenous culture and stewardship. The was introduced in 2019 in recognition of 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 respect for the Indigenous people who originally inhabited the land the university now occupies.

Transformative Gifts Boosts 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 Inclusive Mission and Engagement

黑料吃瓜 continued to advance its mission of global engagement and diversity through significant achievements and contributions.

The university drew $132 million in gifts and pledges in 2023-24, including endowments to support programs in perpetuity. Gifts and pledges raised through , a nonprofit auxiliary of 黑料吃瓜, cover the 12 months that ended June 30. Notably, 5,076 individuals became first-time donors, and more than 60 new endowments were established during this period. Among the impactful gifts, Jessica P. Sarowitz, inspired by her 鈥渟oft spot鈥� for the foster care community, contributed $2.5 million to endow the . Additionally, San Diegans Christopher 鈥淜it鈥� (鈥�60, H 鈥�19) and Karen Sickels pledged $2.5 million to establish the Kit and Karen Sickels Endowed Chair in University Heritage and Community Engagement. Their gift was formally announced during a Dec. 9 celebration at the university鈥檚 presidential residence.

Read: Gift endows chair to promote 黑料吃瓜 Heritage and Community Engagement

Over $1 million in grant funding will support the expansion of evidence-based practices to serve diverse student populations through campus resource centers, benefiting campus resource centers like the APIDA Center, Black Student Success initiatives, Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies and other campus resource centers.

Further underscoring this commitment, 黑料吃瓜 was named a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader for the fourth consecutive year. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken commended the university鈥檚 efforts in a letter to President de la Torre, stating, 鈥淔ulbrighters make the world a better place in classrooms and countries worldwide.鈥�

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This commitment to inclusive excellence is reflected in the remarkable generosity and transformative impact of 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 supporters. The moving and uniquely American story behind a $5 million donation to 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 Black Resource Center, announced in February, made headlines worldwide. Ron and Janice Dong鈥檚 gift, honoring Gus and Emma Thompson鈥攚ho defied segregation-era housing restrictions to shelter Ron Dong鈥檚 Chinese American family鈥攚as recognized in September with the renaming of the center in the Thompsons鈥� memory.

Looking Ahead: 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 Path to Continued Innovation and Impact

As 黑料吃瓜 continues to innovate, engage globally, and foster inclusion, 2024 was another year of growth and achievement, further solidifying the university鈥檚 role as a leader in education, research, and community impact. The university will move into the second phase of its strategic plan, is preparing to open the Sciences and Engineering Laboratories at , will welcome the for its first season at Snapdragon Stadium 鈥� and more. The university will also continue to advance sustainable energy programs in Brawley, strengthening its position as a leader in international education and remain committed to shaping a brighter future for its students, faculty, and the communities it serves.

Jeff Ristine and the 黑料吃瓜 News Team contributed to this report.