May 19, 2007

Felix R. Perez of Fresno, a chemistry major and accomplished researcher who graduated today with a 4.0 grade-point average, was named President’s Medalist for California State University Fresno’s Class of 2007.

Fresno State President John D. Welty presented Perez with the award during Commencement at the Save Mart Center. It is the highest honor the university gives to a graduating student. The Division of Student Affairs reports 4,226 students completed their work in the summer, fall or spring semesters and were eligible for bachelor’s degrees. In addition, 748 were eligible for master’s degrees and 10 earned doctorates in educational leadership.

The President’s Medal winner is selected from the nine undergraduate Dean’s Medalists who represent the academic colleges and schools and the Division of Student Affairs. Perez represents the College of Science and Mathematics.

Friday night, Scott Kupferman was awarded the University Graduate Medal during the Graduate Degree Hooding Ceremony for master’s and doctoral degree candidates. That medal is the top honor for a graduate student, chosen from the nine Dean’s Graduate Medal winners. Kupferman represented the College of Arts and Humanities.

Perez, a graduate of Edison High School in Fresno, was one of five students in the state awarded a 2005 summer internship with Pfizer Summer Minority Research Fellowship in Organic Chemistry. He twice has presented his research at national meetings of the American Chemical Society and plans to submit a paper on his research for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

He also participated in the Alliance for Minority Participation, in which he mentored and tutored other students. His award and honors include Downing Scholar Award and the Best Science Poster Presentation at the 2006 Central California Research Symposium.

Although his professors say Perez shows great potential as a scientist and researcher in synthetic organic chemistry, he has a further career ambition. As he became more involved with research, tutoring and mentoring, Perez decided his ultimate career goal is to enter the academic field as a professor.

His experiences as a research intern for Pfizer Inc. and as a student in the Ronald E. McNair program helped prepare him for graduate school, where he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Saturday’s Commencement ceremony included a moment of silence will be observed in recognition of recent tragedies involving university students – the shootings at Virginia Tech on April 16 and a shooting near Fresno State on May 7.

Posthumous degrees were be awarded to Nazar James Kitch in business administration with an entrepreneurship option, and to Harsimran Pal Singh in electrical Engineering. Both were victims of vehicle accidents during the school year.

The flags of 67 countries adorned the Commencement stage to represent the homelands of Fresno State’s international students. The National Anthem was sung by Jennie L. Gray. Karina Mares led the new alumni in singing the Alma Mater to close the ceremony. Both are graduating music majors.

The California State University and Fresno State conferred honorary doctoral degrees on alumni Malinda Pennoyer Chouinard, co-founder of Patagonia sportswear, and Roy Christopher, the eight-time Emmy winner and designer of 17 Academy Awards telecasts.

Chouinard received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters for helping her company become a model of environmental preservation, corporate responsibility and policies that help working mothers. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art in 1969 and a secondary teaching credential in 1970.

Christopher received the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts. One of the most respected and honored production designers in the entertainment industry, Christopher earned his bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from Fresno State in 1957 and his master’s in 1961. He has won eight Emmys for his television work and awards also for theater design.

CSU trustees Peter Mehas, Andrew LaFlamme and Jennifer Reimer represent the California State University. The CSU’s Wang Family Excellence Award in Education, Professional and Applied Sciences will presented to Dr. Timothy Stearns, a Craig School of Business professor and director of the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fresno State.

DVD copies are available for purchase of video coverage of the University Commencement, the Graduate Hooding Ceremony, the Kremen School and Craig School of Business convocations and the Latino Commencement Celebration. Details: 559.278.4668.