CSUSM Launches Matching Gift Challenge for Basketball Scholarships
A new initiative aims to bridge a funding gap for student-athletes in a highly competitive California conference.
By Javier Sanders ·
Cal State San Marcos competes in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, a conference known for high levels of athletic competition within NCAA Division II. The university’s basketball programs, however, receive less scholarship funding than many of their peers in that league. To address this disparity, local supporters have introduced a new financial mechanism designed to expand aid for current and prospective players.
The initiative, a matching gift challenge, was created by Carleen Kreider, a director on the CSUSM Foundation Board, and Dick Lansing, a lecturer in the College of Business Administration. Their goal is to increase the number of scholarship slots available to men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes. This additional funding is intended to help the university recruit talent and retain existing players while making the cost of a CSUSM education more manageable for them.
For Dexter Stratton, a power forward from Chula Vista, a scholarship allowed him to finish his degree in finance while playing for the Cougars. Stratton transferred to CSUSM from a community college, choosing the school because it offered a path to complete his education alongside his athletic career. He noted that the support allowed his family to attend his games and reduced the pressure of balancing work and school.
Portia Polo, a second-year student from Washington state, experienced a different benefit from scholarship support. While studying public health, Polo said the financial aid removed the stress of making ends meet. She described the scholarship not just as money, but as a vote of confidence in her potential, allowing her to focus fully on her academic and athletic goals without the distraction of financial worry.
Kreider stated that meeting the student-athletes clarified why the funding gap needed to be closed. She emphasized that the players are driven and committed to their education, and the foundation wants them to feel supported by the community. Lansing added that investing in these students impacts their families and the university, giving them the chance to earn a degree while competing at a high level.
As the new basketball season begins, donations made to the scholarship fund count toward CSUSM’s Blueprint for the Future campaign. The university encourages fans to attend games at the Sports Center or make direct gifts to support the student-athletes competing this year.
