Degrees to be Conferred Posthumously at Commencement May 28

Media Contact:
Pat Lopes Harris, 408-656-6999, pat.harris@sjsu.edu

Give to the Scholarship Funds:
http://www.sjsu.edu/advancement/giving/
(click “Give: Your Support Counts”)

SAN JOSE, CA –The San Jose State University Department of Accounting and Finance has established scholarship funds in memory of Marcory “Cindy” Tarlit Caliguiran and Thomas Kyle Williams, honors students who died May 10 in a campus shooting three weeks prior to their graduation. Bachelor’s degrees in business administration with a concentration in accounting will be conferred posthumously at Commencement on May 28 at Spartan Stadium.

“During this very difficult time for the friends and loved ones affected by this tragedy, I am heartened by efforts to celebrate the lives and achievements of two of our best and brightest,” Interim President Don W. Kassing said. “Our memories of Cindy and Kyle remind us that life is fragile and precious, and it is up to each of us to live the best life we can in the time that we have.”

Making a Gift

Please give online at the following website. Donors will be asked to select the scholarship fund for Cindy or the scholarship fund for Kyle. To give to both funds, complete the online form for one honoree, click on “Make a Gift,” then click on “Add Another Donation” at the bottom of the screen.  The website address is: http://www.sjsu.edu/advancement/giving/ (click “Give: Your Support Counts”)

Please send checks to the Tower Foundation of San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA, 95192-0183. In the memo section of the check, write “in memory of Cindy” or “in memory of Kyle.” If both names are included, then the total amount will be divided evenly between the two funds. To give varying amounts, please submit separate checks.

Remembering Marcory Tarlit Caliguiran

Marcory "Cindy" Tarlit Caliguiran

Marcory Tarlit Caliguiran (courtesy of Beta Alpha Psi)

Friends, classmates and professors at San Jose State have described Cindy’s kindness, resourcefulness and the way she motivated others. Cindy grew up in Pasay, Philippines, one of the cities that makes up Metro Manila, but most recently she lived in San Jose, less than 10 miles from campus. She studied accounting at the Technological Institute of the Philippines and at DeAnza College before transferring to San Jose State in 2009.

The 25-year-old could often be found studying on the fifth floor of SJSU’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library with fellow members of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), an honors organization for accounting students. Howard Turetsky, professor and BAP faculty advisor, recalled that Cindy sat in the center of the front row in his class and “always had a sense of wonder about new material.” Cindy was a Gary J. Sbona Honors Program participant.

Cindy’s friend and classmate Emma Lu said that Cindy visited her family in the Philippines over the winter break. “She loved her father and siblings, and she talked about them often. After graduation, Cindy planned to study for the CPA exam and get her license with the hope of working at one of the “big four” accounting firms in San Jose: Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Remembering Thomas Kyle Williams

Thomas Kyle Williams

Thomas Kyle Williams (courtesy of Beta Alpha Psi)

Thomas Kyle Williams was known among the San Jose State community for his engaging smile, his love of golf and baseball, and his stellar achievements in the accounting program. The 26-year-old was born in San Jose and grew up in the Bay Area. He attended Sierra College before transferring in 2009 to San Jose State, where he was an active member of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), a close-knit honors organization for accounting students.

“Kyle was the A+++ student that every professor dreams about. He was that good,” said Howard Turetsky, professor and BAP faculty advisor. “I wish I could still debate the merits of Tiger Woods and Barry Bonds with him.” Bryan Pham, BAP chapter president, was in Kyle’s pledge class and often studied with him. “Kyle had confidence,” Pham said. “And he made you feel like you were the only person in the room.”

Another classmate, Jennifer Spino, remembers Kyle’s smile and how he took the time to talk to her about how the class was going. “He always got 100 percent on every accounting exam,” she said. “He had such a great future ahead of him.” Kyle was scheduled to begin working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in San Jose this fall.

San Jose State — Silicon Valley’s largest institution of higher learning with 29,000 students and 3,190 employees — is part of the California State University system. SJSU’s 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation’s 10th largest city.