The end of the spring semester inspires both celebration and reflection. Though we hold commencement in both winter and spring, the spring ceremonies bring with them the culmination of another academic year.

At the many end-of-the-year scholarship and awards banquets, I am reminded of how accomplished our students are and how hard they have worked to have reached this point in their lives. It’s also a time when many scholarship recipients have the opportunity to meet and thank the individuals, businesses and foundations that made the scholarships possible.

The generosity that our donors have shown to Sac State and our students is remarkable. It is also a recognition of the value of a Sac State education.

As the state budget continues to be an unpredictable source of funding, students become ever more dependent on scholarships to help them stay on track toward a degree. For some it is truly what makes the difference to keep them in school.

Most of our students work full time and in some cases the pinch from rising costs for food, gas and other necessities places them in the painful position of having to choose whether to continue their education. A scholarship can alleviate much of that worry.

The stories the students tell at these scholarship events are compelling, touching and even inspiring. Some talk about the volunteer programs they’ve been involved with in addition to school. Others share how they’ve worked multiple jobs or helped to raise family members. And many are returning students trying to start a new career path. By the end of the night, everyone walks away knowing the scholarship money was money well spent.

We talk a lot about the life-changing opportunities that Sac State provides for our students. One of the most enjoyable experiences as President of Sac State is witnessing lives changed right before my eyes as students graduate and become leaders in their communities.