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California State University, Fresno’s 99th Commencement is the highlight of four days and 23 events from May 20 to June 3 that honor the achievements of 5,317 students in the Class of 2010 who have earned baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees.

University Commencement, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 22, is when Fresmp State President John D. Welty announces the President’s Medalist, the top undergraduate student. The University Graduate Medal winner, which goes to the top post-baccalaureate student, is announced at the Hooding Ceremony (7:30 p.m. Friday, May 21 at the Save Mart Center).

Eighteen Dean’s Medalists will be honored for academic achievement and other accomplishments.

Commencement activities began Thursday, May 20, with a historic ceremony honoring Japanese-American students whose Fresno State education was interrupted by being interned during the early days of World War II. Six alumni and 21 others represented by family members received honorary Bachelor of Humane Letters degrees through the California State University Nisei Diploma Project.

On Friday, May 21, 15 college and school convocations and recognition events culminate with the Hooding Ceremony.

Following University Commencement on Saturday, six more events will be held, ending with the 33rd Latino Commencement Celebration at 6 p.m.

The final official activity of the 2010 commencement season will be the Air Force ROTC Commissioning Ceremony June 3 at the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center within the Student Recreation Center adjacent to the Save Mart Center.

Live streaming will be available on the Internet for the University Commencement, the Graduate Hooding Ceremony and the International Graduation Celebration (1 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the Music Building Concert Hall). The broadcasts – with captioning – can be viewed on Bulldog TV at bulldogtv.csufresno.edu. Replays will be available on the website at “Recent Events.”

Friday events begin at 8 a.m. when Fresno State alum Victor Hernandez, who is the director of coverage for CNN/U.S. in Atlanta, delivers the keynote for the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism celebration at the Satellite Student Union. Jim Tucker Media Service Award will be presented to a journalist from the San Joaquin Valley.

Hernandez also will keynote the Arts and Humanities Convocation at 11 a.m. in the Student Recreation Center.

Some Friday events will be held in the Student Recreation Center and the Satellite Student Union, which are smaller venues that will require tickets this year.

Tickets are not required at the Save Mart Center, where the following events will be held Friday: 9 a.m., Kremen School of Education and Human Development; 12:30 p.m., Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; and 4 p.m., Craig School Business.

College convocations in the Student Recreation Center: 8:30 a.m., Lyles College of Engineering; 11 a.m., College of Arts and Humanities; and 2 p.m., College of Social Sciences.

At Commencement, President Welty will confer degrees on 4,254 students who completed their work in the summer, fall or spring semesters and are eligible for bachelor’s degrees. Another 1,019 students are eligible for master’s degrees.

Thirty-three are eligible for doctorates, including 19 in the university’s first independent Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership.

Eleven individuals will receive the Education Specialist Degree, which was approved in 2008 for the continuing education of school psychologists working in grades K-12.

The Class of 2010 includes 22 baccalaureate students who achieved perfect 4.0 GPAs and 127 students who earned summa cum laude (“with highest praise”) distinction for a GPA of 3.9-4.0. Eleven students are graduating in 12 different special majors, and 40 Smittcamp Family Honors College President’s Scholars are graduating with university honors.

The California State University and Fresno State will confer honorary doctoral degrees on three alumni:

  • San Joaquin Valley agricultural leaders Rodger and Margaret Jensen
  • Former Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Trustees Peter Mehas and Russel Statham, a Fresno State student, will represent the CSU.

A posthumous bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism (advertising) was presented this week to the family of Alyson Candra Harley of Fresno, who died in November. At Commencement, she will be acknowledged during the conferral of degrees on her classmates.

Approximately 26 retiring professors will be honored by the conferral of emeritus status.

The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching will be presented to Dr. John Franz, a professor of social work education who retired after a 25-year career at Fresno State.

Four other professors will be honored for excellence:

  • Dr. Michael Caldwell, associate professor of music, with the Faculty Service Award.
  • Dr. Constance Jones, professor of psychology, with the Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award.
  • Dr. Martin Shapiro, associate professor of psychology, with the Technology in Education Award.
  • Dr. Benjamin Boone, associate professor of music, with the Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Award.

Promising New Faculty Awards will be presented to Dr. Yongsheng Gao, assistant professor of physics; Dr. Jennifer Ivie Barth, assistant professor of psychology; Dr. Jason Immekus, assistant professor of education research and administration; and Dr. Marnel Niles, assistant professor of communication.

The flags of 36 countries will adorn the Commencement stage, representing the countries of origin of this year’s graduates.

The Fresno State Air Force ROTC will present colors. Valerie Salcedo will sing the National Anthem and Corey Liggans will lead the new alumni in singing the Alma Mater to close Commencement. Both are graduating music majors.

The Grand Marshal for the 99th Commencement is Dr. Edward EmanuEl, a Theatre Arts professor who has been at Fresno State since 1969, and is the senior faculty member.

EmanuEl, who as Grand Marshal will lead the procession, has received the Distinguished Professor Award and the Mark David Cohen National Award in Playwriting for Best Original Play in the U.S. for 2000. He also received the Stanley Wang Family Award for Educational Excellence in Literature and Performing Arts, which is presented by the chancellor of the California State University.

All commencement events are free and open to the public, except those requiring tickets. See link to full schedule below for ticketed events.

For more information about Commencement, call 559.278.2741.

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