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Earning her degree from the Dr. Lillian R. Goodman Nursing Department at �°������ϲ� State was transformational for Lexi Singh ’85. “Whatever I learned here, I still use today,” she says. The Dr. G.B. and Lexi Singh Nursing Simulation Center help students practice medical procedures so they will be prepared for real-life care.

Retired teacher Peggy Curran ’54 says she received a great education at �°������ϲ� State, and she wants to help today’s students do the same. “Their enthusiasm is as great as ours was, and that’s a good sign,” she says.

Education was very important to the family of Kelley Joseph ’87, M.Ed. ’90, even though finances were sometimes tight. She says �°������ϲ� State helped her succeed in her career as a reading specialist, and she wants to help the next generation succeed as well. “We don’t want potential students to not be able to access more education because of financial situation. Perhaps they become the role models and leaders in their families for the future.”

Hard work, and never saying no, helped Gene DeFeudis succeed. He supports �°������ϲ� State because his donations go a long way in helping students. “I decided that the contribution that I would make, the size of it, wouldn’t matter that much to someplace like Harvard. But it sure would matter for a place like �°������ϲ�, where they have everything to offer at a reasonable price.”

Ever since he was five years old, the late Phil Wasylean ’63 wanted to be a teacher. He used his passion for teaching to succeed in his 46 years in the classroom. Before he passed away in 2019, he saw students receiving the same quality education that he received, which is why he gave back so generously. “I’ve spoken to [�°������ϲ� State] students and I’ll ask them, how are the teachers? They say, ‘Oh they’re wonderful. They’re so nice and helpful.’ And that’s very important. That’s the teacher element.”