David Finkelstein’s (‘86, Computer Information Systems) $10,000 gift to establish the Gigi Finkelstein Scholarship Fund is rooted in gratitude, memory, and a clear-eyed understanding of how fragile a college education can be when money is scarce. 

Named in honor of his late wife, Brigitte “Gigi” Finkelstein (‘86, Music), the scholarship supports undergraduate students across all disciplines who face significant financial constraints, with awards of $2,000 annually. For Finkelstein, the intent is simple and deeply personal: to give students the helping hand he once needed himself, and to ensure Gigi’s name continues to be spoken in a place that shaped both of their lives. 

“I couldn’t have continued my education without a number of scholarships from Humboldt,” Finkelstein says. “I had no financial support from my family, so I was on my own.”

During his time as a student, he worked constantly to stay enrolled, serving as a teaching assistant, working in the residence halls to cover living expenses, umpiring Little League games, and officiating youth basketball. He took out student loans when he had to. 

The understanding that access, not ability, often determines whether a student stays in school inspired the scholarship. Rather than limiting it to a specific major or background, Finkelstein made it broadly available. 

“I’m hoping to help the student who really wants to go to college,” he said. “Someone who has a plan, and has the ability and the motivation, but doesn’t have the money.”

The scholarship is named for Gigi not only because she was his wife, but because Humboldt was where their life together began. Both found a sense of belonging that extended far beyond the classroom at Humboldt. 

David Finkelstein’s path to Humboldt was anything but straightforward. At 17, he left New York for California, determined to escape influences he knew could derail his life. 

“If I had stayed in New York,” Finkelstein said, “I figure I would have either been dead or in jail.”

After years of working full-time and an early, unsuccessful attempt at college, Finkelstein returned to school with focus and purpose. He earned an associate degree in business at Victor Valley College in Victorville, California, and began deciding where to complete his bachelor’s degree. One option was a large campus closer to home. The other was Humboldt. The difference, he said, was immediate. 

“Every phone call I had with Humboldt was excellent. The welcoming atmosphere, the feeling of help I received,” Finkelstein says. Even warnings about the rain didn’t faze him. “If that’s as bad as it gets,” he said, “I can live with that.”

At Humboldt, Finkelstein immersed himself in campus life. A transfer student who was older than many of his peers, he lived in the residence halls for all four years, starting in Tan Oak and later serving as a live-in group advisor in Alder and Redwood. The experience taught him empathy, communication, and how to support people through difficult moments.

“I learned how to understand somebody else is going through a problem,” Finkelstein says, “and how to support someone who’s having a hard time.”

Academically, Humboldt launched the career he would spend decades building. He studied computer systems at a time when the field was rapidly evolving, learning programming languages and database concepts that were just emerging. He credits Computer Information Systems faculty like Ann Burroughs and James Blaisdale with challenging him and opening doors, even joking about the irony that he earned a D in a database course taught by Burroughs—only to go on to retire as a database administrator. 

Humboldt also introduced him to Gigi. They met in the residence halls. She lived in Alder, was deeply involved in the music program, and played flute at a professional level, performing in concerts and later teaching music after graduation. Their relationship grew out of a close-knit group of friends, shared holidays, and easy companionship. 

“What really connected us?” Finkelstein says. “Humboldt.” 

He likes to joke that what sealed the deal was his cooking—specifically a lemon Cornish game hen recipe. “It got us married,” he says.

Gigi died of cancer in 2013 after about a year of illness. Finkelstein speaks of her with warmth and humor. “We always had fun,” he says. “She was always happy. I’m the grump. She was a good moderator.” Through the scholarship, that steadiness and generosity live on.

Today, Humboldt remains central to Finkelstein’s family story. One of his children graduated from Humboldt in 2020, and helping her move into Alder brought back powerful memories. When students appeared unprompted to help carry boxes up the stairs, he laughed. “That’s totally Humboldt,” he said. 

Join David Finkelstein in opening doors for students facing financial barriers. Consider making a gift to support scholarships at Cal Poly Humboldt. Your generosity helps ensure that motivated, hardworking students have the resources they need to continue their education. Visit giving.humboldt.edu, call (707) 826-5200, or email giving@humboldt.edu to learn how you can make a difference.