The Gift of a Lifetime

The impact of scholarship support doesn’t stop the moment Jackrabbit graduates cross the stage at commencement and earn their diplomas.

It’s a pivotal steppingstone for SDSU students as they traverse their way through life, leading them on a path to the careers of their dreams. It’s instrumental in helping the next generation put their best foot forward, unencumbered by financial burdens. The support offered by scholarships positions college grads for success, and the impact of receiving help when they need it most shapes grads personally and professionally in a way that’s truly profound.

Andrea Berends, a 2022 graduate, is a firm believer in the power of philanthropy. Now a music teacher for grades kindergarten through fifth in Springfield, Minnesota, Andrea insists that her life might have taken a very different course, if not for the scholarship support that guided her collegiate experience.

Free from the stress of making ends meet, she was able to fill her schedule with countless opportunities, focusing solely on the joy of just being a Jackrabbit. During her time at State, Andrea’s days were a whirlwind of serving on the Hobo Day Committee, joining the Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority, and sharing her musical talents through the Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band, pep band, concert band, and choir. She also participated in Little I, a beloved SDSU tradition, and was an executive board member and volunteer for State A Thon.

Memories like that are ones she wouldn’t trade for anything, and Andrea reflects that, without scholarships, those core experiences simply wouldn’t have happened. If she’d had to juggle a work schedule among all of her other responsibilities and activities, she likely would not have graduated in four years, missing out on the job opportunities she found that led her to her role today.

Having just wrapped up her third year of teaching, Andrea’s days now look like a collection of seemingly little moments that mean the world to her, speaking to the big impact she’s making as an educator. It’s seeing students from previous years pop by her classroom, reaching out to say hi even when they’ve aged out of her classes. It’s taking her students to compete at state-wide choir, watching them light up while they make music at a higher level for the first time. It’s the looks on her students’ faces as they fade out on the final note of a successful performance, beaming with pride.

For Andrea, those small moments are worth every ounce of her hard work and effort, and she knows those memories are funded by the generosity of others in the yellow and blue family.

“Without the scholarship support I received, I wouldn't be where I am today, and I wouldn't be building this beautiful life for myself,” Andrea reflects – and hearing about the influence of scholarship support on her career was music to our ears.

Now that you're teaching, how do you see your SDSU experience and the scholarships you received showing up in your classroom?

Over the last three years, there have been so many moments where it's clear how well my time at SDSU prepared me to enter the real world. I use so much of what I learned in my classes in my work with my students. SDSU gave me a great foundation to be a successful educator, but it also taught me the importance of continued learning and to use the resources and connections I gained in my four years, like my professors and my classmates. Outside of my classes, the multiple organizations I was in and the leadership experiences I had on campus have also shaped who I am as a professional. Without the scholarship support I received, I would not have been able to dedicate myself to my passions and studies while in school. Because of this, something I try to express to my students a lot is how lucky they are to have the opportunities that they do and to take advantage of them as much as possible. 

How has your perspective on scholarship support changed now that you’ve graduated and are in your career?

While I was at SDSU, I knew firsthand how important it was to receive scholarship support, but now that I'm on the other side, I'm realizing the importance of giving back and donating when I can. While it's not always easy for young adults in their first few years after graduation to donate a lot, it's important for me to give back to the place that helped me become who I was meant to be, even if my contributions are smaller than others'.

What would you say to a student who is where you were a few years ago, wondering if college is even financially possible?

I would say that there is always a way to make college work. Look at all of your options and talk to people to find what your best path will be, and don't be discouraged if your path isn't the same as someone else's because of your financial situation. I truly believe that if you have a dream in your heart, it's meant to be, and you'll find a way to make it work. Scholarships and other routes of support are there to be used!

What do you wish your scholarship donors could see about your life today?

Something I'd wish scholarship donors could see about my life now is the happiness I have found. I feel that in the last decade or so, it's become the norm to go to a four-year school, get a degree, and enter your chosen profession – so much that we, as a society, have almost forgotten what a huge achievement that is! Not only do I have my dream job and have been able to build my music program, but I've started a business in my community, found a church, and I've created friendships that feel like family – none of which would have been possible without SDSU and the support I received. 

What does being a scholarship recipient mean to you now that you’re shaping the next generation in your career?

Being a scholarship recipient has shown me the importance and duty we have to take care of each other. The scholarships I received were from strangers. These people did not know me personally, but they knew they wanted to help someone else. I think it's important to continue that chain of support and pass that on to the next generation. Getting to work with the youngest of the future generation gives me so much hope, excitement, and giddiness over what these kids are going to do with the world someday, and I'm looking forward to being able to support them the best that I can.