When Alan walked into the admissions office, he brought his whole story with him—the missteps, the regret, and the determination to do better. Instead of judgment, he found belief. Instead of being defined by failure, he was seen for his potential. He was admitted into a program that allowed him to build a degree around his life experience, professional responsibilities, and academic goals. For the first time, his education worked with his life, not against it.

That moment changed everything.

At CSU, Alan didn’t just earn a degree—he rebuilt his confidence. He learned what it felt like to be valued, supported, and challenged in equal measure. He graduated with academic distinction, but more importantly, he left with a sense of responsibility. One message from an admissions leader stayed with him: If you make it through this place, remember to give your time, your talent, and your treasure back.

Alan took that to heart.

Today, his giving is rooted in gratitude and purpose. He supports CSU because he knows what’s at stake for students who are close to the finish line but need help getting there. He gives because he believes financial barriers should never erase potential. And through his scholarship endowment and volunteer leadership, he’s creating opportunities that will outlive him—opening doors for students who, like him, just need someone to believe in them.

“I give because others gave for me,” Alan says. And at Cleveland State, that belief continues to ripple outward—student by student, story by story.