Susan and Kit Oase Reinvest in Our Students

Kit and Susan’s relationship blossomed at Sacramento State, while she studied nursing and he focused on government. The pair, both first in their families to attend college, reflect fondly on their time spent on campus. Susan (’70 Nursing) loved living in the dorms, attending football games and remaining in touch with many friends.

But Sacramento State was not her primary school of choice. Growing up in Stockton, she planned to attend the local community college. Thankfully, her high school teacher challenged her to pursue her lifelong dream of nursing and pushed her beyond her local community to attend Sacramento State, a smaller university with around 10,000 students at the time, but offering a newly minted nursing program.

At the same time, Kit (’67 BA Government and ’78 MA Government) was exploring his passions on campus by participating in cultural events, singing in the university choir, listening to dynamic speakers, attending his first opera and becoming involved with student government. He remembers participating in the groundbreaking of the Guy West Bridge and attending a speaking event featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He remembers, too, the exposure to legislative speakers, activities at the State Capitol and an openness to differing viewpoints during a time of great controversy in our country that sparked Kit’s passion for studying government.

However, without a scholarship from the Sacramento State Alumni Association, Kit most likely would not have had any of these experiences. Kit received a scholarship, funded by alumni, to help him enroll in Sacramento State his freshman year. Without that support, summer work and National Defense Education Act student loans, Kit fears he would not have earned his degree, nor married Susan. His affinity for campus and the Alumni Association remains strong to this day because alumni “made that investment in me. We can now make an investment in today’s students.”

This year, they made a gift to create the Kit and Susan Oase Endowed Scholarship to help future students, especially those who wish to be involved with student affairs on campus and students who may not be able to attend Sacramento State without scholarships. This endowed scholarship will provide financial support for undergraduate students in perpetuity.

Kit and Susan have generously donated to scholarships, the Alumni Association and other University programs over the years. They also made a commitment to student scholarships by naming Sacramento State as a beneficiary in their will, and have been longtime members of our Legacy Circle.

The couple now have nine Hornets in their family including a brother, a cousin, a son, nieces and even a great-niece who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in English. “The University has influenced our family in many ways,” shares Susan. “We have earned degrees in criminal justice, business, English, nursing, education, theater, government and more!”

If you are interested in learning more about including a gift to Sacramento State in your future plans, please contact Steven Loya at loya@csus.edu or (916) 278-6115.