Janice Durbin Chaffin, '78

"Smart, motivated kids don’t always have the economic advantage to go as far as they can, but the Preuss School’s attention to academics gives students the opportunity to go to college and achieve their life goals. I enjoyed being at UCSD, but for me it was difficult to pay for my education. Now I’d like to make it a little easier for someone else."

With a gift of $26,000, Janice Durbin Chaffin, ’78 and her husband established the Janice and Steve Chaffin Scholarship Endowment to provide scholarship support for graduates of the Preuss School who go on to study at UCSD. The Preuss School is a public middle/high school on the UCSD campus that offers an intensive curriculum to low-income students who will be the first in their families to go on to earn a college degree.

"I can’t thank those enough who generously support UCSD’s student scholarships," said Preuss graduate and current UCSD student Amanda Esquivel.   "I might worry about my classes, but I won’t have to worry about paying off loans.  With less financial stress, my life is certainly a lot easier."