Hi. I’m Jessica Ponce. I am so excited because I will be a proud San José State University alumna when I graduate this month. I’m going to tell you about my college experience, share some exciting SJSU news with you and urge you to please help open doors to the future for current students by giving to the SJSU Fund, which supports the university’s greatest needs.

First the exciting news:

• Sixty students produced “Always Learning,” a full-length feature film on coming-of-age as seen through the eyes of a home-schooler. The film won a Rising Star award at the 2013 Canadian Film Festival.

• President Mohammad H. Qayoumi has been appointed to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council and chair of the HSAAC’s new subcommittee on cybersecurity.

• Students in Professor Scott Myers-Lipton’s Social Action class turned a class project into an effective movement for change, and now workers in San José will benefit from an increase in the minimum wage.

Did you know that when you give to the SJSU Fund you are helping students have access to counseling services that will help them on their path to graduation and their futures? Your generosity will support a multitude of programs, services and enrichment opportunities that help us be successful in our academics. Won’t you please give to the SJSU Fund today while you’re thinking about it?

Thanks to gifts from generous alumni and friends of the university like you who believe in the potential of students like me, I’ve been able to take advantage of opportunities for growth I would never have had otherwise. I spent a mind-expanding week in Austria as a Salzburg Scholar learning more about how to live and work in a global society. I gained practical experience in research and I’m currently finishing up an internship with Santa Clara County District 4 Supervisor Ken Yeager.

I could never have imagined how many doors would be opened for me during my years at San José State because of the generosity of people like you who give to the SJSU Fund. Generous people like you are rewarded by knowing that they are playing an important role in helping students prepare for bright futures for themselves, their families and their communities. Thank you!

Because of San José State, I am confident that I am fully prepared for my future, which will hopefully include a two-year fellowship with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (I’m waiting to hear!) to gain real-world experience before pursuing master’s and doctorate degrees in public health. I would like to teach and conduct research in a university setting—SJSU, you may not be through with me yet!

I want to let you know that this is a great time to invest in what promises to be a dynamic and exciting tomorrow for San José State. In addition to helping 30,000 students succeed in their academic and future lives, you will be adding your vote of confidence for SJSU since your gift will be made in time to count toward Acceleration: The Campaign for San José State. Please give to the SJSU Fund today!

Thank you,

Jessica Ponce
Health Science ’13 (this month!)

P.S. Help open doors to the future for SJSU students. Please give to the SJSU Fund today. Thank you!