Despite tight economic time, some are still willing to give for the sake of education.

Sac State received two gifts totaling over $700,000 for the Office of University Advancement.

Alumna Nancy Pierce Owens, a former Associated Student vice-president, left the school nearly $100,000 from two annuities. The money will benefit the Nancy Pierce Owens Memorial Scholarship Endowment for undergraduate students in the College of Education.

Former Sac State associate vice-president for Academic Affairs Earline Ames left $300,000 in her estate, which will benefit students studying to be teachers.

Rebecca Thompson, associate vice president for development said many donors were first generation college graduates and had successful careers.

Some alumni remember working their way through school and how difficult it could be at times.

“Around 60 percent of current students work 30 hours or more while attending school,” Hall said. Jack Bertolucci graduated from Sac State in 1950 with a business degree, along with 300 other students. It was Sac State’s third graduating class.

“I enjoy going to the baseball games, so I started a scholarship program for baseball players that were receiving business degrees,” Bertolucci said.

Bertolucci began the scholarship after he noticed none of the baseball players were getting business degrees.

Fran Baxter-Guigli, director of Development Operations said we try to keep in touch with the alumni to keep them informed of the various things happening on campus.

“Our goal is to have Sac State be the alumnus philanthropic organization of their choice,” Baxter-Guigli said.

Baxter-Guigli said the gifts are a testimony to how much people value education.

“It is our obligation to use gifts accordingly. I think if that person came back in a year or two, would he or she be happy with how we used the money,” Baxter-Guigli said.

Baxter-Guigli said that every year the golden grads, those that graduated 50 years ago come on campus and give a speech on why they give back.

Sally King can be reached at [email protected]