Marketing students 'Light the Night'

by Skip Sherwood
Professor Emeritus, Marketing
On Saturday evening, Oct. 8, students from the Marketing 100(S) classes in the Craig School of Business participated in the annual Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night event. The event raised $190,000 for patient services and research.

Fresno State student teams from these classes raised over $30,000 as part of their service learning assignment. This is an increase of more than $3,000 over last year's total for the students.

The reaction of the students to this project was particularly gratifying.  Many of them started out viewing it as another class requirement they "had" to do to pass.  However, in the end, it was all about the money they raised, the survivors carrying white balloons and doing something special for others. 

Here are only a few of the comments students provided:

"All in all the experience raising the money, having my immediate family all come together to help, not to mention my extended family members, co workers, friends – it  was one of the best feelings in the world to help other people.  Thanks for the opportunity."

"I think the most important thing that I am getting out of college is that some of these classes force us to go outside our comfort zones and do things we wouldn't ordinarily do on our own.  These learning experiences are immeasurable. Thanks."

"Sometimes you get wrapped up in your life and think you have so much to worry about. Events like this put everything into perspective."

"I will be honest with you and tell you that I have never been a part of anything similar and prior to Saturday had no intention of doing it again.  But, being out there Saturday with my friends and family, we as a group made a decision to be there next year and to devote even more time and raise more money than we did this year."

Fresno State faculty and staff, including Chris Fiorentino, Susan Geringer, Alan Canton, Debbie Young, Emil Milevoj and Holly Bond, as well as a number of retired Craig School faculty were among those helping to inflate over 1,300 balloons just prior to the event.

This whole experience reinforces the power of service-learning, the dedication of Fresno State students, faculty and staff, and the role our university plays in the community.