King Family

Rick King (‘88, Finance/’93 MBA), Mitchell King (‘17, Accounting/’18, MS Accounting) and Grace King (Junior, Accounting)

From left: Mitchell, Grace and Richard King

Did your college experience influence your parenting style? If so, how?
Rick: My college experience influenced my parenting style in a couple of ways. First, I learned how important higher education is for your future, so I instilled that message to all my kids throughout their life. Secondly, when I attended SDSU I became an avid supporter of SDSU athletics, and I shared that experience with my kids at an early age which has become a family tradition.  

Did your dad’s education at SDSU inspire you to attend? 
Grace: Yes, my dad’s education at SDSU inspired me to attend. From an early age, my dad taught me that a good education will help me achieve my goals in life. I always admired my dad’s strong work ethic and his constant desire to grow in his field. My dad wouldn’t be the person he is today without his experience at SDSU’s Fowler College of Business. Watching firsthand how happy and successful my dad has been, I knew I wanted to go down a similar path. Now that I’ve completed three years at SDSU, I can say with confidence I chose the right path.

Mitchell: My father's education definitely inspired me to consider SDSU as an option. The combination of a strong, nationally recognized business program and competitive athletics program always stuck out to me and I knew I wanted to attend a university with both of these attributes. I actually found out I was accepted to SDSU as an early admission via email while my father and I were driving down to the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl — a game in which the Aztecs were matched up against BYU. It definitely seemed like fate and accepting that admission offer has been one of the best decisions of my life.

How do you think your SDSU experience was different from Mitchell and Grace’s?
Rick: My experience was very different than Mitchell and Grace's, mainly due to the number of activities now available on campus like Aztec Nights and the student union. Grace had a greater campus experience due to her time in the dorms since I lived near SDSU but never on campus. During my time at SDSU the basketball team was not very well known and now attending the basketball games make an amazing college experience.  

Also, it's nice to see how easy it is to get classes now and graduate on time.  When I attended SDSU, crashing was a way of life, but Grace and Mitchell don’t even know what crashing is now that they improved how to sign up for classes.  

Mitchell, where are you working now?
Mitchell: Currently working at BDO USA (accounting firm) as an experienced audit senior.

Grace, when do you anticipate earning your bachelor’s degree?
Grace: I anticipate earning my bachelor’s degree in spring of 2023. I am also enrolled in SDSU’s BMACC program. I plan to earn my Master’s in Accounting in spring of 2024.

How has your Aztec experience impacted your life?
Grace: I have had an outstanding experience at SDSU so far. I feel so fortunate to have met lifelong friends, receive an exceptional education and create lasting memories. I am proud to call myself an Aztec for life. 

Mitchell: In addition to my undergraduate studies at SDSU, I also stayed a fifth year to complete my Master's Degree in Accounting. The entire experience prepared me exceptionally for the real world, and I truly am thankful for the university's efforts to ensure its graduates are ready to enter the real world.