USD Magazine, Winter 2002

ALCALA ALMANAC

'I Was Just There for Them' Single Mom Named Parent of the Year A single, working mother who managed co put her three children through

college while caring for her own elderly mother and aunt recendy was named USD's Parent of the Year. Mary Gardner, mother of junior Michelle Gardner, was recognized at a Mass in Founders Chapel during the 2001 Family Weekend in November. Mary says she was so surprised by the award char when her name was called, she glanced around the church for another Mary Gardner. "I chink it's so important co cake pare in your kids' lives," says Mary, whose cwo ocher children include Vicki, 26, an Arizona Scace University alumna. and Eddie, 23, an ASU student. 'They need co know chat you're behind chem. I was shocked because I didn't chink I was doing anything special, I was just there for chem." Michelle, 20, who majors in sociology, says her mother always has been involved in her school and extracurricular accivicies, and continues now as a member of USD's parent board. "It's so hard co say how much my mom does in our lives," Michelle says. "I just wanted her co be acknowledged for her hard work. She's deserved something like this for so long."

Junior Michelle Gardner says her mother, Mary, sacrificed for her education.

even secs her alarm early co give chem wake– up calls on mornings of big exams. The sac– rifices she's made throughout the years, she says, helped instill in her children the impor– tance of education. "I couldn't go co college because I needed co work in the family business," says Gardner, whose family owned a bowling center until 1996. "So I always felt educa– tion was important. I figure when they're our of college and on their own, then it will be my time."

Michelle says it still amazes her co see how effordessly her mother seems co juggle her responsibilities. "She gees up every morning at 4:30 co make sure my aunt and grandma have break– fast on the table, and gees home lace at night," says Michelle. "She makes so many sacrifices for us. " Mary, who lives in San Carlos, Calif., and works in d1e controller's office ac Stanford University, talks co each of her children sev– eral rimes a day, visits chem regularly and

Freshman Class Profile 200 I

62,823 Inquiries made by aspiring freshmen 6,702 Applications received by admissions office 1,004 Number of freshmen in 200 I class

3.73 Average high school grade point average fo r an incoming freshman 26 Percent of freshmen who had a 4.0 GPA o r higher in high school

1,162 Average score on the SAT (maximum is 1,600) 203 Number of freshmen from San Diego County 3 Number of freshme n from Alaska

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