Olympic boxer Jose Ramirez, a Reading Garden and a 5,000-book giveaway are among the main attractions of La Feria de Educación, a California State University education fair conducted mostly in Spanish that is expected to draw more than 5,000 youth and their parents to Fresno State from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct.24, in the Peace Garden with opening ceremony at noon.

The CSU has partnered with Spanish-language television network Univision, the Fresno County Migrant Education Department and the Consulate to present such fairs at CSU campuses with large Latino service areas. The project is part of the Hispanic Partnerships Initiative through the CSU Office of External Relations.

Ramirez, a 2012 United States Olympian from Avenal, will join Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro for the opening ceremony in the Peace Garden at 11 a.m. Co-sponsors Consul Maria Fernanda Cámara, consulate of Mexico; Steve Stuck, vice president and general manager of Univision; and Maryann Jackmon, representing the California State University Chancellors Office will also be on hand.

Designed to empower thousands of Latino parents and students with information and resources to help them succeed in California’s educational system, the event –is the first nearly all Spanish college fair to be held in Fresno and only the third ever at a CSU campus. The fair will include entertainment and more than vendors, and representatives from universities and community colleges.

Spanish-speaking professors will be present to meet families at the Fresno State Latina/o Faculty Staff Association booth including Dr. Victor Torres, president of the LFSA.

Also providing support are migrant education departments of Fresno, Tulare, Kern, Merced and Madera counties, which helped arrange nearly 31 school buses transporting 1,000 Valley students and parents.  

The fair is free and no advance registration is required, although participants must check in and get a wrist-band at the info booth near the Campus Drive round-a-about (access from Barstow Avenue via Chestnut).

Free parking is in lot P-20 on Barstow between Maple and Cedar (enter via Chestnut).

At the Reading Garden located near the Jane Addams monument, Ramirez will again join Castro and his wife Mary to read to students along with Univision anchors and reporters David Ibarra, Reina Cárdenas, Lupita Lomelí, Tahayna García and Francisco Mireles.

Univision will give away 5,000 books in Spanish and English to promote literacy and   underscore the value of being bilingual. At the photo visualization area, youngsters will be photographed in settings depicting possible future careers and/or in a graduation cap and gown.

Entertainment will be provided by Ballet Folklorico de Oro de Mexico and Fresno State’s Mexican folkloric dance troupe, Los Danzantes de Aztlan.

Live mascot Victor E. Bulldog III will pose for photos from 1-2 p.m. at the outreach table.

College-readiness workshops will be held for parents and students in nearby classrooms with traditional topics like the different college systems in California, financial aid, career options and first-year college success.

Workshops are targeted in three different age ranges: high school, middle school and elementary school.

Two workshops will cover services for undocumented students and as well as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy including personalized assistance if needed.

Parents will visit workshops discussing their role in education, and hear the personal testament of Dr. Brissa Jazmin Quiroz Enrique, coordinator of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics program at Reedley College.

Other sessions will feature Juan Esparza Loera, editor of Vida en El Valle; Robert C. Vaca, Orosi High School principal; Nellie Aguilar-Miller, attorney; and German Amezcua, operations manager for Univision.

For more information, call the University Outreach Services office at 559.278.2048 or see the full program schedule at bit.ly/FS-FeriaEdProgramSched.

 

Related Link:

Full schedule: bit.ly/FS-FeriaEdProgramSched

Free parking: Lot P-20 — see map: http://bit.ly/FSMap1117