Kicking off April 21, this year’s festivities include a job mixer, an upcycling craft fair, outdoor meditation and more

Projects tackled memory loss, data protection, mental health and more

Radio personality Carolyn McArdle splits her time between 98.1 The Breeze and Oracle Park Carolyn McArdle (B.A., ’94) has worked in Bay Area radio for more than 30 years, mostly as an on-air personality. As the industry changed, she wore more and more hats. She’s a morning show co-host, assistant program director and music director at iHeartMedia’s 98.1 The Breeze. Last summer, she added one more hat to the mix — and this one’s orange and black. McArdle was named the public address announcer for Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. This year will be her first full season with the Giants. She’ll work 81 home games, mostly at night. With a full-time job as morning show host, McArdle will have a packed calendar. “This is my dream come true. I don’t care if I’ve got four hours of sleep or five hours of sleep. I get to call the ballgame at Oracle Park for the Giants,” she said. “I’m so fortunate. This is the pinnacle team that I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be working for.” She credits San Francisco State University for her career in radio and Major League Baseball. An athlete herself, McArdle came to SFSU to swim on the Gators’ NCAA Division II team (which was disbanded at SFSU in 2001). After a challenging run studying real estate at SFSU, she switched to a program that didn’t require math or accounting: Radio and Television. Once in the program, she was blown away that this was something she could do professionally. SFSU taught her the basics of radio: editing, copy writing, audio production and sound mixing. “We were editing reel to reel, cutting tape and slicing tape and playing records off vinyl,” she said. “The teachers were so down to earth and so real and so helpful that that you just constantly felt supported.” One of her class requirements was to intern at a radio station, which gave her actual broadcasting experience. She shot for the moon and wound up at her favorite radio station, K101 (101.3 FM), working with a staff that included the legendary Bay Area DJ Don Bleu. Every day she worked, she’d bring him his daily prize sheet. Hearing him on the air the next day, she says she felt proud knowing she was the one to walk that piece of paper to his recording studio. SFSU helped make the jump to the professional world of radio seamless. “There was still a learning curve, but I was so well prepared based on what I had learned at State,” she said. Eventually, she found herself working alongside some of her former instructors. Then in 2012 her life came full circle when she became the co-host for “The Don Bleu Show” on 103.7 KOSF. After three decades in radio, she says she wanted a new challenge. “I love radio, but I do it every day and I could do it with my eyes closed,” she said. “I wanted to try something new ... and so, I thought, ‘What about announcing sports?’” Baseball was her first choice, so in 2019 she looked online for public address announcer positions. One popped up at the University of the Pacific (UOP) in Stockton for the softball team. From there she found other gigs. It was swimming and gymnastics at Stanford University, water polo at UOP, softball, volleyball, gymnastics and football at the University of California, Berkeley. She enjoyed what she was doing and people thought she had a talent for announcing, she says. “Now, of course, your brain naturally goes to, ‘How high can I go?’” she said. “And for me, the goal would be Major League Baseball. That would be the pinnacle, the gold star.” Her goal was quickly becoming a reality. She auditioned for the San Francisco Giants’ minor league farm team, the Sacramento River Cats, and was hired as a fill-in announcer in 2020. Eventually she became the team’s full-time announcer. Fast forward to 2024 when the San Francisco Giants were looking for a public address announcer. She auditioned against other people who were equally talented, she says. “It could have gone to anybody in that booth,” she said. “I’m extra humbled and grateful that the Giants selected me to be their new [public address announcer] going forward. … This is definitely something I worked for.” SF State Night with the Giants is Tuesday, April 8. Tickets can be purchased online.  

Wednesday, April 2, is the giving day for the University For the first time ever, San Francisco State University is launching Gators Give Day, a University-wide day of philanthropy celebrating SFSU. The entire community of SFSU alumni, supporters and friends is encouraged to support the campus cause of their choice, whether it’s a student club or one of SFSU’s colleges, programs or departments. Gators Give Day begins at midnight Wednesday, April 2, and ends at 11:59 p.m. More than 60 groups consisting of colleges, schools, departments, student organizations and clubs will participate in the 24-hour event and will launch their own online fundraising page in addition to the main University giving page. Every donation made on April 2 will count toward the Giving Day totals and will have a measurable impact on student success. “This special day brings together alumni and friends to celebrate the San Francisco State community and enhance the future for all of us at SFSU,” said Jeff Jackanicz, vice president for University Advancement. “SFSU has transformed the lives of so many, and Gators Give Day is a wonderful way for people to say ‘thank you.’ Every dollar donated will continue to make the lives of our students brighter.” Amplifying Our Reach Gators Give Day is a chance for the University to make its case to its community of alumni, supporters and friends. Faculty and staff are encouraged to amplify our reach by sharing giving day updates on social media and helping to spread the word, using posts and our crowdfunding platform that will be shared leading up to and during the day on April 2. Schedule of Matches and Challenges on April 2 Gators Give Day will include several matches and challenges to encourage broad participation. At different points during the day, updates and leaderboards on our crowdfunding platform will track the following matches and challenges. Hourly Challenges 6 to 8 a.m.: Early Bird Challenge Share a photo of yourself in SFSU gear celebrating Gators Give Day using #GatorsGiveDay to unlock $1,000 for the fund of your choice. 8 to 10 a.m.: Student Org Power Hour The top three student organizations receiving the most gifts during this time period will unlock $1,000. 10 a.m. to noon: Gator Hatchlings and Paws Challenge Post a photo of your pet or child in SFSU gear with #GatorsGiveDay. One winner will be selected to unlock $1,000 for the cause they care most about. Noon to 2 p.m.: Faculty and Staff Challenge The fund receiving the most gifts from SFSU faculty and staff will get an extra $1,000. 2 to 5 p.m.: Gator Pride Challenge The school, college or other campus fund with the most unique donors during this time period wins $1,000. 5 to 7 p.m.: Rush Hour Donor Challenge The two funds with the most donors during this time will each get an extra $1,000. 7 to 9 p.m.: Ready, Set, Give! The first fund to reach 25 donors in this time period wins an additional $1,000. 9 to 11 p.m.: Late Night Gator Challenge The two funds with the most donors during this time period win $1,000 each. 11 p.m. to midnight: Thank You Challenge Post a thank you video to donors, sharing what you love about SFSU, and include the hashtag #GatorsGiveDay. One winner will be selected to unlock $1,000 for their cause. Campus community members are encouraged to help promote the event and participate in any of the matching and challenge opportunities if they’re interested.

Housing for 2025 – 2026 is guaranteed for all students who complete an application by April 6