Sam and Rachel Smith, both class of 2018 business grads, first met in an entrepreneurship-focused student club at the Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics.

Today, the couple is happily married and are looking forward to seeing their own children become Titans someday.

But in the meantime, the couple is already selflessly giving back to their alma mater through a new $35,000 scholarship for Business Honors students with a GPA over 3.50 and financial need.

“Cal State Fullerton has given us so much,” says Rachel Smith, who was the class of 2018 student commencement speaker and now works at CEO Coaching International while earning her MBA at USC.

“We are both proud to have received a terrific education that has set us up for unlimited success in our careers, and we were honored to receive scholarships along the way thanks to the generosity of CSUF donors that came before us. We always knew that one day we’d want to give back more than we received so future students could also be blessed the way we were.”

Sam Smith, who works at Mariner’s Church in Irvine after spending five years in the investment industry, says the couple’s faith motivates and informs their philanthropic efforts.

“Our faith in Jesus Christ is the most important thing in our lives, so we asked scholarship applicants to share how they live out some of the qualities of Jesus: service, sacrifice, justice, generosity, humility and compassion,” says Sam Smith. “We named it The Salt of the Earth Scholarship after Matthew 5:13 from Scripture, as we want to give all the glory back to God.”

Looking back at their student days, Sam Smith recalls being part of Titan Capital Management, the college’s student-led applied investment program, as pivotal to his development, while Rachel harks back to the President’s Scholars Program, studying in Washington D.C. with fellow Cal State students for a semester, rapping her commencement speech, and making a music video with former CSUF President Fram Virjee.

The couple encourages fellow Cal State Fullerton alumni to think back to their student days and the value a Titan education provided when considering giving back.

“Start small with setting aside a percentage of your paycheck to be donated to the university. Every dollar counts in giving back to your alma mater!” says Sam Smith.

Don’t have the financial resources to contribute yet? Rachel Smith reminds us that there are many ways to make a difference.

“Join in on the school spirit at sporting events,” she says. “Sign up to be a mentor for students in your department. Recruit CSUF alumni into your workplace. Tell others about your experience. Whatever you do, don’t forget to give back!” For more on giving back to the College of Business and Economics, reach out to Chrissy Chase, director of development, at [email protected].