Aztec Shops Urges Campus to Make “Smart Choice” for Student Scholarships

Goal is $75,000 from 100,000 Meals

As part of its 75th Anniversary celebration, Aztec Shops has launched a campaign to raise $75,000 for student scholarships. In the campaign, which began in mid-March, the auxiliary is donating 75 cents from the purchase price of selected food items on campus to a special scholarship fund. The goal is to donate $75,000 by December 2007 or earlier. Called “Smart Choice,” the program is featured in 15 restaurants across campus operated by the SDSU Dining Services division of Aztec Shops.

Participating restaurants include Starbucks, Sub Connection, the Aztec Grill and the Grill at University Towers. Also, restaurants in East Commons, West Commons and Aztec Center will participate in the program, according to Aztec Shops Chief Executive Officer Donna Tusack. Each restaurant will have at least one menu item designated as a “Smart Choice.”

“People on campus – whether they are students, faculty or staff – always appreciate a way to give something back to the university and its students,” said Tusack. “Our 75th Anniversary is a great way to give them that opportunity.” Aztec Shops was founded on the SDSU campus in 1932.

According to Tusack, Aztec Shops is working with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships on details of distributing the funds. The first scholarships resulting from the program will be awarded in the 2007-08 academic year. A portion of the $75,000 will go into unrestricted general campus scholarships and a portion will be directed to the student workers of Aztec Shops. The auxiliary employs up to 800 students on campus each year.

Tusack hopes that some of the $75,000 raised will come from additional business at the 15 restaurants.

Students, faculty and staff at SDSU have many options when it comes to food, she explained. “Sometimes they overlook the restaurants operated by Aztec Shops. By giving customers a reason -- the scholarship donation -- to eat at restaurants they may not regularly visit, we can reintroduce them to the locations and some of the best food on campus. When given the opportunity, we believe customers will patronize the restaurants that help to support the campus.”

The SDSU Dining Services Web site – eatatsdsu.com – offers a list of participating restaurants and items along with a thermometer-style graphic showing the company’s progress toward the $75,000 goal. To reach it, Aztec Shops will have to sell 100,000 Smart Choice meals. Based on projections, Tusack estimates the goal will be reached before December 31.