Santa Clara University

Some of the many student experiences supported by the Santa Clara Fund are opportunities for international travel, including study abroad, immersion trips and other University-led journeys.  The Santa Clara Fund designated dollars to help fund a journey last year for eight students and two Jesuit leaders to travel to Magis and World Youth Day in Spain.

“Our eighteen-day pilgrimage was full of reflection and discovery,” said Jack Treacy, S.J., director of Campus Ministry, who accompanied the students on the trip along with Paul Mariani, S.J., assistant professor, history. The experience allowed SCU students an opportunity to deepen their faith through service projects, fellowship with other students from around the world, and spiritual events including prayer with Pope Benedict.

The pilgrimage began with students attending Magis, the Ignatian program for groups from Jesuit institutions held prior to the weeklong Catholic gathering for World Youth Day. Two Santa Clara seniors – Kate Flannery ’12 and Felipe Yerkes-Medina ’12 – led a workshop on volunteerism during Magis. After spending the first few days in Loyola, Spain, the birthplace of St. Ignatius, the Santa Clara delegation divided into two groups. One group spent a week in Burgos, Spain, reflecting on creation and evolution through science, theology and art. The other groups spent time in Malanga, Spain, connecting ecology and spirituality.

Then the Santa Clara students and other Magis pilgrims reconvened for World Youth Day in Madrid, where the searing heat during the day and the thunderstorms at night couldn’t dampen their spirits as they prayed with about two million others from 192 countries.

“We want to thank the Santa Clara Fund for making this pilgrimage possible,” said Fr. Treacy. “We recognize now more than ever what it means to be a part of the SCU community.”  

Pictured in photo: Students on the trip included Kate Flannery ’12, San Antonio, TX; Felipe Yerkes-Medina ’12, Seattle, WA;  Zachary Shikada ’12, Honolulu, HI; Brenna Donnellan ’13, San Rafael, CA; Andrea Martinez ’13, San Francisco, CA; Melissa Crapps ’14, Anchorage, AK; Mary Helen Mack ’14 Portland, OR; and Amanda Weiler ’14, Eugene, OR. Pictured with the students are Fr. Mariani (back row, far left) and Fr. Treacy (back row, fourth from left), who accompanied them to Spain.
 

Santa Clara parents are important members of the SCU community. We thank each family for their support and partnership with all students through their journey here at Santa Clara University.

We want to extend a special invitation to join us on campus for the 2012 Family Weekend, February 24-25. These events provide families with a great opportunity to learn more about the University and spend some quality time in a fun, social environment with your SCU student.

Learn more about events, speakers and registration. >>>>

For Judith Martinez ’14, the Santa Clara experience encompasses so much more than what prospective students might read about in an admissions brochure or on the SCU website.

“There is a magnetic electricity on our campus that I find not only attractive, but also invigorating,” according to Judith, who is majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Economics and Communications. “Be it walking past friendly faces in our Benson dining hall, shuffling about with friends from class to class, or simply looking around at the sea of red Ruff Rider t-shirts at a game – there is something about Santa Clara that breathes life into its students.”

The sophomore from Southern California recently shared her experiences at the President’s Club Dinner, an annual event honoring alumni, parents and friends who demonstrate their commitment to Santa Clara University by generously contributing a total of $1,000 or more annually. Judith expressed her thanks to the generous donors who have made it possible for her to have many enriching experiences in the classroom and beyond.

During her two years at Santa Clara, she has been a visible advocate for the University in a variety of roles: serving as a freshman representative for Associated Student Government; providing guidance for incoming students over the summer as an Orientation Leader; and giving campus tours and representing the student body to campus visitors as a Student Ambassador. Alumni and parents might receive a phone call from Judith when she’s working in the on-campus Student Call Center to secure donations for Santa Clara. She even pulled a shift perched on the stern of a crew boat while serving as coxswain for the Women’s Rowing Team her Freshman year.

Her most recent endeavor is founding a chapter on campus of a new club called Strive For College SCU. Gathering a group of current Santa Clara undergraduates as mentors, the organization partners with a local low-income high school to guide junior and senior students through the process of applying, enrolling and paying for four-year colleges and universities, the majority of which have Santa Clara as their top-pick school.

She looks forward to further academic and personal growth in her remaining years at the University. Judith explains, “Santa Clara inspires and motivates a will to believe in not only the skills and talents of oneself and others, but also what impact such skills are capable of accomplishing.”

To read the full text of her remarks to the President’s Club, click here.

To see a video featuring Judith and other students offering thanks for the Santa Clara experience, click here.

Santa Clara has the highest percentage of alumni making an annual gift since 2006.  7,521 alumni donors met the challenge of the Race to Raise, surpassing the goal of 20% alumni participation by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2011.

Thank you to all the passionate Broncos who responded so generously to meet this University goal.

With alumni support, we can help current and future Broncos by:
•    Giving scholarships to students in need and bridging an average annual tuition gap of $11,853 per student;
•    Extending learning beyond the classroom through immersion trips, study abroad, and student research and projects;
•    Supporting student athletes and keeping SCU competitive at the national level in sports;
•    Raising our alumni donor participation rate, helping leverage corporate and foundation support, and positively impacting Santa Clara’s position in national rankings of top universities.

Click here for more information on alumni participation.  

SCU broke ground June 21 on the Patricia A. and Stephen C. Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building. Positioned centrally along Palm Drive, it will serve as the new home of Undergraduate Admission, University Financial Services, the Bursar and the Registrar, and include a welcome center for campus visitors.

Made possible through a lead gift from Steve Schott ’60 and his wife, Pat, the 25,000-square-foot facility completes Santa Clara’s grand entry experience and provides convenient access to student services while offering visitors a rich introduction to the University and its Silicon Valley home.

“We’re extremely grateful for the Schotts’ generosity in making this much-needed center a reality,” said SCU Bursar Denise Burt. “It will truly be a one-stop shop for support of our students, and serve as a welcoming new ‘front door’ to campus for prospective Broncos and their families.”

The Patricia A. & Stephen C. Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building is slated to open to Santa Clara students and visitors in fall 2012. Click here for more information on this new addition to campus and other SCU capital projects.

In the ecstatic moments following January’s Bronco victory over the Zags, a life-threatening situation unfolded outside Leavey Stadium. Amidst cheering fans and a large crowd, the quick response of a trained-student Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) helped save a life. In this chaotic moment, the values of the Campus Emergency Medical Services program – training, compassion, professionalism, and care – guided the decisions of student EMTs; and from their actions, a Santa Clara student is alive today.

Mohit Kochar, a sophomore majoring in Public Health, is one of approximately thirty-five students on the team of certified EMTs, who are part of SCU’s Emergency Medical Services program. On the evening of the Gonzaga game, he was leaving the stadium a few minutes early when he noticed Campus Safety officers tending to a student who had collapsed on the outside steps. Although he was off-duty, Mohit quickly assessed the student and began to administer CPR with a Campus Safety officer. They continued until the arrival of on-duty campus EMTs and the Santa Clara Fire Department, who transported the student to a medical facility.

Mohit eventually had an emotional meeting with the student after his release from the hospital along with his grateful family. In February, SCU President Fr. Michael Engh recognized the EMTs and lauded their services during his State of the University address from within the Mission Church. “The recognition, for not only the five of us who were on the scene, but the other thirty EMTs who are on-call every night of the school year, as well as our amazing medical director, was a tremendous honor. It was proud moment to be part of such an extraordinary organization and family here at Santa Clara and the campus EMS program,” Mohit said.

SCU is one of only a few universities that have similar programs. Founded in 1997, Emergency Medical Services is a completely volunteer-based, student-run and organized program. Under the guidance of Medical Director Michele Helms and leadership of a student elected director, Santa Clara’s EMTs are all California certified and Nationally Registered EMTs. To achieve this certification, they complete for entrance into an extensive training program of 120 class hours, and often elect to complete additional training. Following completion, only about half of the trainees are selected to become certified EMTs with SCU EMS.

Student EMTs provide crucial after-hours care for the campus community. They are “first responders,” assessing injuries and illnesses, and referring the patient to the appropriate health care provider. Mohit explains that while many calls are due to alcohol situations and minor injuries, he adds that the incident after the basketball game was “a tremendous wake-up call” that emergencies will happen at times and we must always be prepared. 

When Colin Daddino ’11 first visited the Santa Clara University campus on a family vacation, he was not considering attending college in California. First attracted to the beauty of the campus and its location in the Bay Area, he later was drawn in by the University’s academic offerings and its highly rated Leavey School of Business.

Today, Colin prepares for graduation, with a major in finance and a minor in economics, and then will return to his home on the East Coast to work as a junior equity research analyst with a New York-based money management firm. He credits his Santa Clara professors with giving him insight into the real world of finance and business.

“Several of my professors stoked a passion for finance that had always been there,” he said. “They were good teachers who furthered my interest by giving me the tools and motivation I needed to be successful.”  Several professors made phone calls and wrote emails on his behalf when he was seeking internships. “I was not just another face in the classroom,” Colin said.

He was especially influenced by Sharath Sury, dean’s executive professor of finance; George Chacko, associate professor of finance; and Mario Belotti, professor of economics. Colin added that professors at Santa Clara have practical business experience, not just academic credentials, and many of them with Silicon Valley companies working on emerging technology. “Their successes motivate you to do well,” he said.

While a student at Santa Clara, he worked on campus in various jobs, including one as the business manager for The Santa Clara newspaper and staffing the information desk in the learning commons. He excelled in his business studies, as evidenced by a nomination for the “Outstanding Student in Finance Award” and his role as junior advisory board member and founding member of the SCIFIRM (Santa Clara Initiative for Innovation and Risk Management).

Once he makes the transition from student to alumni, Colin says he will forever appreciate his Santa Clara experience and the Jesuit philosophy of education. He says, “I’d like to give back to education, perhaps eventually helping fund scholarships.”
 

Increase your own network and boost the reputation of Santa Clara. You can provide a measurable difference for today’s students! Through this minimal commitment, you’ll be part of a passionate group of alumni that are making a difference for future generations of Broncos. Plus, you’ll be able to stay informed of key happenings on campus. Learn more here.

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Frontier Challenges in Jesuit Education is now available online.

The Class of 1960 had an unprecedented 66.87% of its members participate in their 50th Reunion Gift. Class members raised $2,045,532 to benefit current and future Santa Clara students.

“These record-setting results are something we have tremendous pride in,” said 50th Reunion Committee member Butch Erbst, who has only missed one of his class reunions over the years. “We’ve set a record that will be hard to beat.”

Erbst noted a special bond among their class and with the SCU community. “All of these things had an impact and made us who we are today,” he said. He adds that the wonderful education they received led to many of the class members, including Father Paul Locatelli, going on to have distinguished and notable careers.

“It’s inspiring to see a class this committed to improving Santa Clara, especially considering the changes they have seen over the last 50 years,” noted University President, Fr. Michael Engh, who went on to say, “Leading by example, the dynamic Class of 1960 has set the bar for all reunion classes to follow. On behalf of current students, I want to sincerely thank all of the class members who made a gift or pledge to the reunion campaign.”

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Join us as we celebrate the life and spirit of Padre at the 5th Annual Pause for Coz Celebration held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Campo di Bocce, Los Gatos. Evening  begins at 6 p.m. and includes a buffet dinner, beverages, bocce, and a silent auction. Click here for more information.

You may wonder why we ask undergraduate alumni to give back every year. While each gift is put to use to fund specific projects and scholarships that benefit students, alumni gifts also have an impact on our participation rate.

The number of alumni who give back each year is used to calculate the participation rate - a number that is used by publications like the US News and World Report. Alumni support is used to calculate school rankings – and each gift makes a difference. The higher Santa Clara's ranking, the more valuable your degree becomes. 

This year a record 6,711 alumni gave back to Santa Clara University. A big thank you to each donor who gave back in support of today's students.

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