Program History

The International Student Tutor/Mentor Program was established in 1986 to assist international students gain competence with the English language and learn and experience American culture. Approximately 80-90 tutors/mentors participate each semester serving about 200 students a year. The program helps international students academically while gaining better understanding of cross-cultural differences. The ultimate benefit of the program is the cultivation of lasting friendships between people from all over the globe.

Biographic Profile- Gigie Price

Born in the Philippines, Gigie immigrated to the U.S. in 1972. She is an alumna of SDSU and was president of the Sigma Iota Epsilon Honor Society local chapter. She has over 20 years of experience in the profit and non-profit sectors. She worked with the defense contracting industry for several years and held a Top Secret Clearance. Part of her responsibility was securing classified conferences involving top 100 high-caliber scientists throughout the U.S., including but not limited to, top governmental agency leaders and staff.

In the mid-90's, Gigie worked as a deputy director of a non-profit organization in San Diego. She developed comprehensive company SOPs, managed overall operation of the organization including budgets and financial reports. She put in place monitoring, tracking and compliance programs for state and federal contracts and grants.

Biographic Profile - Larry Price

Larry is a native San Diegan and has been in the retail business since he was eight years old. His family created and operated FedMart and Price Club retail stores. In the late 1970's, Larry created, owned, managed and operated successful businesses throughout California, New Mexico, Arizona and Virginia. He employed over 200 people at 20 stores by mid-1980's when he sold his businesses to then Price Clubs, now called Costco.

Interests and Hobbies

Travel, politics, current events, dying with dignity, prisoners rights, behavior and ethics, off-roading, reading and skiing.

Countries Visited Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom (England and Scotland).