The auditorium on the north side of the Humanities-Social Sciences Building bears a new name that preserves the family legacy of longtime Cal State Fullerton donors Kirt and Donna Spradlin.
In recognition of the couple’s planned gift of their home to the university, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences celebrated the naming of the first-floor lecture hall as the “Kirt and Donna Spradlin Family Auditorium.”
Family members and friends of the Spradlins, as well as campus leaders, faculty and staff, attended the Nov. 21 naming ceremony.
President Ronald Rochon expressed gratitude to the Spradlin family for their selfless gift and support to CSUF.
“Thank you for choosing Cal State Fullerton, our students and this institution that is doing amazing work to transform lives,” Rochon said.
The couple’s planned gift will provide support for generations of students through the Spradlin Family Endowed Scholarship in Aging Studies and the Spradlin Family Endowed Scholarship in English, Comparative Literature and Linguistics.
Rochon said the generosity of the Spradlins exemplifies the impact of donors on students.
“When students come in and see ‘Kirt and Donna Spradlin’ on the building, I want them to stop and say, ‘Who are they? And how do I do something special like this for other people as well?’”
Donna Spradlin and her late husband, Kirt, became regular donors to the university in 1997.
Spradlin, 98, said it was her lifelong dream to become a teacher. While raising three daughters, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1970 from CSUF and taught for 15 years in Fullerton schools. Her husband of 74 years was an electrical engineer and manager at Hughes Aircraft Co.
She shared her life story, including that she and her husband were frugal and saved. As a result, Spradlin added that they were financially able to donate their family home to the university.
“We have no regrets,” Spradlin said.
Jessica Yirush Stern, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said that the Spradlins embody the college’s mission of lifelong learning.
After the couple retired, they became involved in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on campus and supported scholarships for students majoring in aging studies.
Stern said that the auditorium is also a space where the college welcomes new students during orientation.
“We tell them what social sciences and humanities stand for, and inculcate a love of lifelong learning and curiosity. We’re training them to not only do work they find personally fulfilling but that will change the world around them,” Stern said. “It’s so perfect to me that this room is named in honor of the Spradlin family.”
Others who delivered remarks were Laura Zettel-Watson, interim associate dean and professor of psychology; Irena Praitis, chair and professor of English, comparative literature and linguistics; and alumna Deborah Morse ’21, ’23 (B.S. human services, M.S. gerontology), a recipient of the Donna and Kirt Spradlin Scholarship.
Spradlin’s daughter, Kathryn Maxwell, and granddaughter, alumna and teacher Erin Ponchak ’00 (B.A. communications), spoke about the importance of education for their family.
“Education has definitely given us rewards as well as a better life,” said Maxwell, a retired teacher. “Today, we celebrate the naming of a building. My dad would be so proud to be here if he could. My mom will graciously accept the honor for both of them.”