Leadership
and Community
José
Montoya—Sacramento’s poet laureate, founding
member of the Royal Chicano Air Force art group and Sacramento
State art professor emeritus |
No university’s
impact can be measured in dollars alone. While the economic impact
of Sacramento State is significant, its cultural, intellectual and
social influence is its biggest contribution.
Sacramento State offers a rich opportunity for the region’s young people and
those wishing to return to college, drawing two-thirds of its students
from the Capital Region and 23 percent directly from the Los Rios Community
College District. Thousands graduate each year with a liberal arts education
that has prepared them to thrive in a fast-changing society. Often they’ve
taken advantage of the University’s location in the state’s
capital city and worked directly with state government agencies or elected
officials. Many have held internship or cooperative education jobs.
Robert
Waste (foreground) — Past member of the City of
Sacramento Planning Commission and a Sacramento State public
policy professor
|
More than
78,000 of 161,000 Sacramento State alumni have chosen to make this
region their home. They’re the leaders and talent who are making the region
great. And according to the Census Bureau, their lifetime earnings will
be about twice as much as a high school graduate.
Sacramento
State
students volunteer about 2.3 million hours each year in the community,
teaching children, assisting the elderly and more. Professors serve
as well, using their specialized training to change the region for the
better. Many provide valuable expertise on local government boards and
commissions, while others complete projects and research on behalf of
non-profit groups. Often entire classes are involved with this work.
Countless special programs make Sacramento State a social and cultural
hub.
Amy
Liu—Director of the “Annual Survey of Public
Opinion and Life Quality in the Sacramento Region” and
a Sacramento State professor of sociology |
Thousands
of high school students each year meet with government leaders through
the Sacramento State LegiSchool Program, or showcase theater talents
at the annual Leneae Festival, one of the largest festivals of its
kind in the United States. Nearly 2,000 middle school students take
enrichment classes through Academic Talent Search. The annual Sacramento
State Festival of New American Music attracts the nation’s top musicians and composers. The Division
I athletics program provides top-notch competition, while the University’s
world-class track and field facilities have attracted events such as
the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. The list goes
on …
Local leaders say Sacramento State makes a difference. Fully 81 percent
say the employment pool is better or much better because of Sacramento
State (16 percent had no opinion), and 74 percent say the region’s
overall quality of life is better because of Sacramento State (17 percent
no opinion).
The
creative talents of Sacramento State
arts students and faculty enliven
the region’s arts offerings. |
The
U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials
come to Sacramento State again in 2004.
|
