Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Education

SDSU Receives $1.6 Million In Gifts In Fundraising Campaign

San Diego State University announced today that it received $1.6 million in six gifts as part of its public phase of "The Campaign for SDSU."

The donations included:

  • $500,000 from Sharp Healthcare to fund scholarships in the Sharp HealthCare Professional Education and Research Institute;

  • $500,000 from Irwin Zahn, the chairman of Autosplice, a Sorrento Mesa manufacturer of electronic components;

  • $300,000 given anonymously for scholarships in the Guardian Scholars program, which assists young adults exiting the foster system;

  • $100,000 from longtime civic and business leader Steve Cushman;

  • $100,000 from longtime SDSU benefactor and U.S. ambassador Charles Hostler and his wife, Chin-Yeh; and

  • $100,000 from new SDSU President Eliott Hirshman and his wife, Jeri.

"The Campaign for SDSU is for our extraordinary students, who will be the future leaders of San Diego and our nation," Hirshman said.

Advertisement

He said the campaign is also for students of diverse backgrounds, with financial challenges, and who have special artistic, academic and athletic gifts. He also said the money would go to faculty and staff who educate the students and perform cutting-edge research.

Hirshman's $400,000 annual salary became the subject of controversy when he took over in July for Stephen Weber, who made made around $300,000.

The compensation was approved by the California State University Board of Trustees despite opposition from Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who sits as a trustee.