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WHY DO WE GIVE
International students enrich our campus and help us learn about their countries and culture. They in turn take home their myriad of
experiences from being in Fresno, are forever changed by them and maintain lifelong friendships with people from across the globe. Supporting international education has given many inter- national alumni a way to reconnect with the campus and show their appreciation for their time at Fresno State. I have enjoyed seeing their success and hearing about their lives now. So many of the alumni share their memories and warm feelings about the university and the people they met. I feel privileged for being a tiny part of their experience on campus.
Many years ago, I started donating a modest amount to a couple of international education accounts. The first was the Phyllis Watts Eudy Memorial Fund. Phyllis Watts was the graduate dean when I was a graduate student and during my time as the Director of the International Students Services and Programs office, she was retired but still supporting international graduate students from Africa. She was absolutely committed to interna- tional education. When the memorial fund was established in her name I contributed and have ever since. The most outstand- ing international graduate student is given the Eudy Memorial Award during Commencement Week. I have given to other inter-
Curiosity launched my career in journalism and strategic communi- cation and now I keep it stoked by participating in classes available through Fresno State’s Osher Life- long Learning Institute program
that provides new-to-me knowledge about things I didn’t even know I was curious about.
When you’re retired from the workaday world, you look for thingstofillsomeofthoseformerworkhours.Ifillmanyofthem learning about chemistry, literature, philosophy, rock music, eco- nomics, American and other nations’ history, art, local history, architecture and much more.
The Osher program, which we call “OLLI,” schedules low-cost, noncredit courses for “those 50 or better” in fall, spring and sum- mer on-campus or via Zoom taught by Fresno State instructors, community experts and accomplished academics from across the nation.
national education accounts over the years and currently donate to the Mark A. Mitchell Memorial Fund. Mark was an exception- al undergraduate student and committed to study abroad. He worked in my office as a student and worked professionally for the U.S. Agency for International Development. One could not have sought a better representative for the United States than Mark. Contributing to his memorial fund helps support students who want to study abroad.
My contributions have been given monthly and they are modest. It
is amazing that over the years I have contributed well over $10,000 towards international education endeavors. Please consider contribut- ing as well. Every bit counts towards important university goals.
Mark Mitchell
At no additional cost, OLLI members also hear from keynote speakers each term who cover a range of topics that might in- clude the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a history of hotels, living safely in the post-pandemic world and California High Speed Rail.
I’m proud to support the OLLI program financially and as an instructor, student and advisory board member because it sat- isfies my curiosity craving, exposes
me to other people my age and
extends the university’s commit- ment to intellectual stimulation and cultural enrichment throughout the community.
• Lanny Larson is a retired journalist whose retirement time also includes civil grand jury service.
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