COVID-19 has impacted every corner of the Sacramento region, including Sacramento State. My name is Ashlee Kruenegel and am a senior at Sacramento State. I transferred from Sierra College in the spring of 2020 and I have been at the University for almost a year now. My husband, Troy Kruenegel, also transferred with me from Sierra College. I am a Communication Studies major and am planning to go to graduate school after I earn my degree. My husband is a Kinesiology major. We both work for the University; I work in the Office of the President and Public Affairs and Advocacy as a student assistant and my husband works at The WELL as a fitness attendant.

During the Fall 2020 semester I was diagnosed with COVID-19 by the Student Health Center. My husband and I woke up one morning having cold symptoms (headache, sore throat, exhaustion). We decided to quarantine just in case but did not think that it was COVID. The next day, we woke up unable to smell or taste our breakfast. We looked at each other with the same “uh oh” type expression. Not knowing where or when we could get tested, we called the Student Health Center.

As Sacramento State students, we have used the student health center services on many occasions. When we called the health center, they asked if we had been exposed. After a quick discussion, the health center representative on the other end of the phone informed us that they had COVID tests available and scheduled us to be tested a few hours later. We then drove to the campus and waited in our cars for the hazmat-suited superheroes that were our healthcare workers.

The testing process was brutal, with two large Q-tips that I was irrationally afraid would pierce my brain with how far back as they had to go. Ultimately, it was only about 2 inches into my nose but was still far less than enjoyable! We were told that if the rapid tests were negative, they would conduct a more intensive test for a second opinion and that our rapid test results would be available by the next day, and if we were lucky, possibly by the end of the day.
The moment we got home, we received a call from the health center that we both tested positive and that we had to quarantine for at least 10 days or until our symptoms have subsided (whichever was longest). The health center then called us to check in every couple of days and made sure we were okay. Eventually, our symptoms subsided, and we were released from our quarantine.

Overall, the Student Health Center at Sacramento State went above and beyond to make a stressful situation feel like less of a punishment and more like a part of life that we could make it through together. They showed genuine concern for our well-being not as staff of the University, not as students that pay to be there, but as human beings just like them. I was proud to be a Hornet before, and am even more proud today because of the welcoming environment that our University continues to make a priority; pandemic or not.

--Ashlee Kruenegel, Public Affairs and Advocacy

The University and generous donors have created a number of funds that support students’ basic needs, undue financial burdens, mental health crises, and more. To learn about how you can support Sacramento State students in need, please visit the Sac State Cares website at swarmfunding.csus.edu/CaresSupport