Josh & Maria Mellinger, two proud SDSU alumni shared how their connection to Aztec Athletics has been a meaningful part of their lives, from one of their first dates at a basketball game to the support they received from the Aztec community during a family loss. Seeing SDSU as family, they made a planned gift to the Athletic Department to help future student-athletes succeed both in the classroom and in competition. The Mellingers hope their story reminds fellow alumni that loyalty matters and that anyone, no matter their circumstances, can step up and make a lasting impact on the future of SDSU Athletics.
Josh and Maria Mellinger Q&A
- Please share a bit about your connection to San Diego State University and what it has meant to you over the years. We are both proud graduates of San Diego State University. We owe a lot of our success in life to our education on the mesa. With each year, as the athletics program and campus grow, our pride grows that much more.
- What role has athletics played in shaping your experience and connection to the university? One of our first dates was an Aztecs men’s basketball game, and from there, our experience supporting the program, cheering on the teams in both good times and bad has grown our connection to the university.
- What inspired you to make a planned gift to the Athletic Department? Was there a specific moment or experience that solidified your decision to leave this legacy? The athletic department is so much more than collegiate sports to us. We’ve always seen it more like family. And family means everything to us. So, when we recently went through a very difficult family loss, the way Aztec players, coaches, and administration rallied around our family with so much love and support is truly something we will never forget. It reminded us that all of this only thrives and grows if Aztec Nation rises up and supports our program. So it was never really a decision; it was just another way to help family.
- How do you hope your gift will impact future student-athletes and the department as a whole? We hope future scholar athletes, some of whom Maria currently teaches in middle school (as she has past Aztecs), will receive a world-class education as the department gains an even greater national reputation.
- If you could speak directly to fellow alumni and supporters, what would you say about the importance of supporting Aztec Athletics? Loyalty matters. Loyalty to your city, your community, and the institution that laid the foundation for your success. Giving back shows every school in a big conference that we will earn their respect through the power of our collective giving. It sends a message that we will not just compete in the classroom and on every field, court, or pool, but we will win at the highest level.
- How do you hope your story will inspire others to consider giving back in a similar way? We consider ourselves regular everyday people who work hard. If we can give, anyone can and should. We’ve decided, throughout the highs and lows, conference changes, and ever-changing NCAA landscape, to roll up our sleeves and try to be a part of the solution rather than sit on the sidelines and complain.