100th anniversary of Fresno State opening is Sunday

On Sept. 11, 1911, Fresno State Normal School opened its doors to about 150 students as the region’s first teachers college.

Now, California State University, Fresno, the region’s biggest university, is a thoroughly modern institution of higher learning that serves more than 21,500 students through eight schools and colleges and the entire community through innumerable alliances.

The university begins its 101^st year with some big challenges and a century of accomplishment. The official celebration of Fresno State’s Centennial ended with the 100^th Commencement on May 20.

But Fresno State’s first 100 years lives on in “A Century of Excellence,” the official history of the university, which examines the variety of people, places and programs that contributed to what Fresno State has become.

University President John D. Welty thinks what’s gone before is great cause for optimism about the future. He wrote about his confidence in The Fresno Bee on Thursday, Sept. 8. Read his thoughts at http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/07/2528728/john-d-welty-confident-look-at.html#storylink=misearch.