Leaving a legacy for future Bulldog generations

Every morning Sally Savona makes her 80-minute commute to work from Elk Grove to Modesto by heading southbound on Highway 99.

The 1983 Fresno State business administration graduate looks ahead to a busy day as the division director for the technology and learning resources department for the Stanislaus County Office of Education that supports technology and professional development for programs, schools and 25 local area districts.

The drive can sometimes feel a little draining when fellow drivers aren’t always the most courteous while trying to avoid the rush hour stop-and-go traffic. On some days, her day is instantly brightened by the occasional Bulldog license plate or bumper sticker sported by proud fellow alumni.

It’s that lifelong passion that motivated her and her husband, John (also a Fresno native and a 1976 industrial arts and technology graduate), to become members of the campus Heritage Society.

The university giving program works with alumni and friends of the University who are including Fresno State in their long-term giving plans.

As a result of a recent tour of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology facilities and after meeting faculty, staff and students, John and Sally decided to include a generous donation to the campus agricultural programs in their estate plans.

“The Jordan Agricultural Research Center is awesome,” Sally said. “Not many universities have something like it, and all the other related programs are so exciting. During our tour, we met the Gibson Farm Market student workers and saw their excitement about being part of the ag tradition at Fresno State.”

John is equally proud of the fact of how Fresno State impacts the Central Valley. He has been involved with the insurance industry over 25 years and is currently employed as the Risk Control Specialist for Berkley Agribusiness.

“I have a lot of respect for all the highly-skilled people involved in providing high-end commodities grown here and in other parts of Central California,” John said. “When I inspect facilities and see what the growers, packers, and shippers do every day, and the importance of efficiency and food safety - those are the same things that I see emphasized by the Fresno State ag programs and the students carry into the workforce.”

While their degrees might not have been directly agriculture-based, the Fresno natives have a fond appreciation for where our food comes from while growing up in Fresno.

John went to Bullard High School where he knew lots of families involved in farming. Memories of picking figs alongside his friends in the nearby orchards during the summer are still vivid.

Sally attended Roosevelt High School and recalled the occasional times she would pick grapes with her family during the summer months. She recalled that her parents wanted their kids to have hands-on experience in agriculture since it was a key area industry and understand the work involved.

The experience at Fresno State was a transformative time that provided lots of fond memories and an appreciation for hard work and dedication.

John worked several part-time jobs while also being a Sigma Chi fraternity member. Sally also worked part-time jobs as a student, working at a friend’s market and as a secretary at a law firm.

The two met at Duncan Enterprises after graduating from Fresno State. They later would often go to Bulldog sports events with friends that solidified their love of campus as alumni.

John had season tickets since the days of football at Ratcliffe Stadium. He continued to own season tickets 10 years after the two moved away, and they still try to get away on occasion to attend a game or two each year.

As proud alumni, they still also drink Fresno State wine, sport university’s license plate holders, and listen to the Fresno farm report every morning on the radio. The occasional "Go Dogs" is also a favorite part of their vocabulary.

Creating new academic opportunities for students is vital to Sally and John. They both have a passion for supporting education and encouraging youth to continue in careers relating to technology or agriculture.

“We want to share some of our prosperity and provide for the future, and what better place for education than our alma mater – it’s where higher education help start our careers and lives,” John said. “Agriculture feeds the world and the students being served by the Jordan College are carrying on the extremely noble profession that is constantly evolving and becoming more technical. The Jordan College plays an important part in preparing students for those careers.”

 

- written by Eric Zamora