Latino communications investor Yrma Rico to speak at one of four ethnic graduation events at Fresno State

International Students event will honor 105 students representing 46 countries

Yrma Rico, an early investor in Entravision Communications Corp. and a majority owner of Weber BMW in Fresno, will be honored Saturday, May 20, during this year’s Latino Commencement Celebration in the Save Mart Center at California State University, Fresno.

Rico started her television career in Fresno when KFTV, Channel 21 was affiliated with the Spanish International Network, before becoming a Univision owned-and-operated station.

The Latino celebration is one of four honoring ethnic minority and international students who are graduating earlier Saturday during the university’s 95th Commencement. Each celebration is free and open to the public:

• The UMS/Camp Graduation Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the La Ryan Event Center (4277 N. West Ave., Fresno).

• The International Commencement Celebration at 1 p.m. in the Music Building Concert Hall;

• The African-American Recognition Ceremony at 2 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center;

• The Latino Commencement Celebration at 5:45 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. Latino Commencement Celebration

Entertainment for the 30th Annual Latino Commencement Celebration will begin at 5:45 p.m. and the ceremony at 6:30 with the Academic Procession.

The celebration, housed in the College of Social Sciences, is one of the best-attended Latino graduation events in the nation, said Dr. Luz Gonzalez, Latino Commencement coordinator and dean of the College of Social Science.

Gonzalez said Rico is being honored for her contributions to the Latino community and will address the audience briefly as part of the recognition.

Rico, one of eight children of Mexican-born immigrant workers, became general manger of the Univision TV station in Denver in 1992 and retired in January 2003. Her communications career began in Fresno and includes stops in Providence, R.I., and Dallas before Denver.

Rico is an equity holder in Entravision Communications Corp., a publicly traded diversified Spanish-language media company. Entravision is the largest affiliate group of the top-rated Univision TV network, with stations in 18 of the nation’s top-50 Hispanic markets. The company also operates the nation’s largest centrally programmed Spanish-language radio network (104 stations).

Rico is a member of several boards including Jones International Cable, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Broadcast Association, Denver Downtown Partnership, Dumb Friends League, Cherry Creek Art Festival, Commissioner for Denver Art, Culture and Film Foundation, Commissioner for Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium and Fund for Colorado.

For more information about the Latino Commencement, call 559.278.3013. African/American Recognition Program

The 21st annual African American Recognition Program will feature a procession, musical selections by Tonya Franklin and a keynote address by Dr. Ned Doffoney, president of Fresno City College.

Administrators, faculty and staff will participate in the graduate procession and join in honoring African-American members of the Class of 2006 through a traditional African Rite of Passage ceremony, said Maxine McDonald, executive director of Academic Enhancement Services, who coordinates the event.

For more information, contact McDonald at 559.278.5353 or e-mail maxinem(Wcsufresno.edu. International Commencement Celebration

The International Commencement Celebration will honor 105 students representing 46 countries who completed work on their degrees at Fresno State over the past year. Some will have families traveling from abroad to attend.

.”We want to acknowledge any proud relatives and friends who did make the long trip from their home countries,” said Dr. Lucia Hammar, director of the International Student Services.

She said community “friendship families” may also attend. “These are Fresno residents who help incoming international students in many ways — picking them up at the airport, taking them shopping or inviting them to share a Thanksgiving meal in their homes,” Ham mar said.

The celebration also will acknowledge international exchange students who have studied at Fresno State for a semester or an academic year and are returning to their home universities.

For more information, call 559.278.2782. UMS/CAMP Graduation Luncheon

University Migrant Services and the College Assistance Migrant Program at Fresno State will honor 81 graduating students and their families from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Alberto Martinez, vice president and general manager of the Telemundo television network affiliates in the Central Valley, will be recognized as the UMS outstanding alumnus of the year.

For more information, contact Raul Moreno at 559.278.5750 or Ofelia Gamez at 559.278.4768.

(Copy by University Communications student news intern Megan Jacobsen).