California State University, Fresno’s Homecoming Week 2011 is under way and was highlighted by Thursday’s  Fresno State Alumni Association’s Top Dog Awards Gala .

The week’s activities culminate with the Bulldogs football game against Utah State at 7 p.m. Saturday and a halftime performance by the Fresno State Alumni Band led by alum Warrant Officer Bryan Raya, U.S. Army Band in San Antonio, Texas.

At Thursday’s gala, Dr. Diana Meehan, the educator and documentarian who co-founded the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, was honored as the 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award.

The 2011 Arthur Safstrom Service Award recipient is Peter Robertson (1992, ’95 and 2005), director of marketing and engagement for the Fresno State Alumni Association. The award honors alumni who have distinguished records of service to Fresno State and the off-campus community.

The Gala also recognized 13 other former Fresno State students from the university’s eight schools and colleges, the Henry Madden Library, Athletics, Division of Graduate Studies and Division of Student affairs for their post-graduate accomplishments.

The Top Dog winners also will be introduced at halftime of Saturday’s game.

Other Homecoming activities include live music in the University Student Union earlier this week and an office door decorating contest sponsored by the Staff Executive Assembly. Seven university offices entered. The winner will be announced at the Red Friday Homecoming reception Oct. 14 at 10 a.m.  in the USU Pavilion.

The Fresno State Homecoming Bulldog Band Bash benefit dinner is at 5:30 p.m. Friday at 6376 N. Montana Ave. in Clovis. Tickets can be obtained through Sindi McGuire at 559.278.5086 or in the new Music Building Office, Room 138.

At the band fundraiser, the Clendenin Brass Quintet will play, the entire Bulldog Marching Band will perform in uniform, and the popular HR7 rock band featuring graduates of the Bulldog Marching band will close the performances.

Proceeds benefit the Fresno State Wind Orchestra and Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland Scholarship Endowment.

On Homecoming Day, a Fresno State students tailgate will begin at 4 p.m. at the University Courtyard volleyball court.

Fresno State student leaders also will hold a tailgate and host their CSU counterparts from the California State Student Association, which is holding its October Plenary Session on campus for a tailgate and to attend Homecoming.

The Kennel Bookstore is holdings its annual Homecoming Sale October 10-15 with 20% off certain apparel, imprinted gifts, gifts and general books so fans can stock up on Bulldog gear for the occasion.

At the game, the Bulldog Band will be joined by the nearly 100-member alumni band that convenes annually for the occasion.  Begun by the late Norm Moglia, the band is led this year by Raya who graduated in 2004 with a bachelor of arts degree in instrumental performance (trombone).

In 2005, he joined the Army as a trombone player, and after he was first assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Band at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, he was deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006-2007.  Raya also served with the Eighth U.S. Army Band in Seoul, Korea, and the 98th Army Band at Fort Rucker, Ala., before entering the warrant officer/bandmaster program. He attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and the Warrant Officer Basic Course in 2011 and is currently assigned as the executive officer with the 323d Army Band “Fort Sam’s Own” at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

He also has performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, and his military achievements include several honors and medals.

For halftime, the Fresno State band will perform “Dreams and Realities,” an original music score by Dr. Gary P. Gilroy, Fresno State director of bands. The  alumni band then will join in to play “Malaguena” – as played by the 1995 Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band.

Also, the Bulldog Marching Band will reveal its annual Norm and Patty Moglia Award presented to an outstanding band alumnus. It will be presented by the Moglia Family, Miss Fresno County Valerie Salcedo, Gilroy and Adam Wilke, Bulldog Marching Band director.