Investing in the Future: The transformative role of scholarship donors in Marci Lapriore’s journey

Marci Lapriore, a graduate student in the Educational Leadership doctoral program at SFSU’s Graduate College of Education and a community college educator herself, is no stranger to challenges. Her story is one of resilience, shaped by financial hardships, an unwavering passion for learning, and the transformative impact of SFSU’s donor-funded scholarships.

Marci grew up in a community where poverty was the common thread and the prospect of higher education seemed daunting. Her early life was marked by a lack of financial resources and opportunities. “Everything my mom did was cash-based. If she got paid, we ate; if she didn’t, we waited,” she recalls. Despite these obstacles, Marci’s love for education never wavered. She knew from an early age that she wanted to attend college, even though she didn’t fully understand how to get there.

Her journey to higher education was far from traditional. At 17, she graduated high school, planning to join the military to fund her education, but chose instead to marry and start a family. Juggling motherhood and college, Marci’s determination saw her through years of financial strain and personal sacrifice. “I started with debt,” she explains. “Moving out of my mom’s house, going to college: it all began with borrowing.”

In the years that Marci persevered through her bachelor's and master's degrees, she paid for her education with credit cards and student loans. “I was so excited that I suddenly had money, not realizing what that sort of money cost. It turned into a cycle that fed itself,” she says. “I never even knew what scholarships were. I never applied for a scholarship. I didn't even know they were available.”

Marci relied on student loans to support her family during her studies and even, during her undergraduate years, to pay for her 15-year-old brother’s funeral after his sudden passing. She contrasts that time with the heartfelt relief that scholarships now provide her. “When I think back to just how much I didn’t have and how I am still suffering from paying off that life, it means so much to have [a donor] out there say, ‘I’m going to give back in this way.’ To be the recipient of that is priceless.”

"It means so much to have [a donor] out there say, ‘I’m going to give back in this way.’ To be the recipient of that is priceless.”

—Marci Lapriore, graduate student in the Educational Leadership doctoral program

Over the years, Marci faced criticism from those around her. “I felt a lot of guilt and shame around pursuing education, even community college. I was made to feel by the people around me — especially people in my family who hadn't gone to college — that it was self-serving, I was being selfish, I was wasting money, I was wasting time, I was trying to get away from my kids,” she shares. But her love of learning and teaching kept her focused. “What I learn at school — no matter the class — helps me be a better teacher. I love using what I learn and putting it into the classroom immediately.”

Marci’s perseverance eventually brought her to the Graduate College of Education at SFSU, where she found a program with values that align closely with her own. “At San Francisco State, we talk about social justice, but we also stop and immediately address any injustice in the room. We're not tiptoeing around — we're actually in the mud together, talking about what we can fix before we move forward. That’s what I [hoped for], and luckily, it’s what I’m getting at SFSU,” she says.

In stark contrast to the loans that funded her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Marci has been awarded scholarships while pursuing her doctorate, including the Vincent Costantino University Scholarship and the Crumpton, Baxter, Bonham Memorial Scholarship. Reflecting on the SFSU scholarship donors who have made her education possible, she says, “They feel like extended family, family that have the means to help others and have, out of the kindness of their hearts, put money towards [a stranger’s] education.” The scholarships have allowed her to focus on her studies and her passion for teaching. “Without your support, I wouldn’t be able to do this,” she emphasizes.

“[Donors] feel like extended family, family that have the means to help others and have, out of the kindness of their hearts, put money towards [a stranger’s] education.”

—Marci Lapriore

As a first-generation college graduate and professional, Marci believes that the ripple effect of education is immeasurable. She encourages donors to believe in their “exponential impact,” reminding them that what they give today multiplies in ways they may never see: “[Giving] pays forward — it's not the end. Writing a check for $1,000 is $1,000 out of a bank account, but it’s unquantifiable how much more that’s going to pay out in the future,” she points out. “You have to believe that exponential impact is real, because it is, even if you don’t see it.”

“[Giving] pays forward — it's not the end. Writing a check for $1,000 is $1,000 out of a bank account, but it’s unquantifiable how much more that’s going to pay out in the future. Exponential impact is real, even if you don’t see it.”

—Marci Lapriore

As a community college educator, Marci works to foster equity in her own classroom, particularly in her college composition writing courses, where she ensures that every student has opportunities to succeed. She has also taken on leadership roles at work that reflect her commitment to enhancing institutional practices and championing meaningful student outcomes. Amongst many other roles, she serves as English Department Chair, represents her colleagues on the Academic Senate and Shared Governance Council, and advocates for faculty as a union representative and as a communications officer for the union. Looking ahead, she plans to continue teaching and using her experiences to inspire students.

Marci Lapriore’s story is a testament to the “exponential impact” of education and the generosity of those who believe in its value. “Thank you so much for paying it forward and for investing in me,” she says gratefully to SFSU’s donors. “You're investing in somebody that's investing in the future as well.”