Seven veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces will be honored for completing Fresno State’s Veterans Education Program during a Cohort Celebration at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 2, at the Smittcamp Alumni House at Fresno State. The event is a celebration of the successful completion of the first cohort of the program and matriculation of the veterans into Fresno State as undergraduate degree-seeking students.

The Veterans Education Program provides returning veterans with a parallel admission route into Fresno State. It offers required coursework necessary for admittance into the University and targets first-year student veterans from two populations: those who have been denied admittance into Fresno State and those who are eligible for admittance but lack transfer credit. Eligible veterans may be service-connected and/or honorably discharged.

One of the students to be honored, Anthony Meza, made a presentation to the CSU Board of Trustees on March 8, 2016 about how the program has impacted his educational future. Meza joined the cohort in the fall of 2015 and, in addition to attending his cohort classes, became a member of the Bulldog Marching Band.

“I was in disbelief up until after the first day of class. It’s still hard to believe that I am taking five courses with other veterans. I’m learning study skills, library research skills, and most importantly I’m experiencing real college courses, at a real accredited university taught by real faculty,” Meza said during his presentation to the trustees. “This program prepares me to matriculate like other students. I plan on getting my bachelor’s degree in nursing and applying for the Army’s Green to Gold program where I can become an Army nurse while they help provide for my next level of education to become a family nurse practitioner.”

The event will include remarks from Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro, Provost Lynnette Zelezny, Dean of Continuing and Global Education Scott Moore, executive director Daniel Bernard, Assemblyman Devon Mathis, as well as several other constituents from the campus and community.

“I’m lucky to have found this program at Fresno State, or rather it found me. Now, I’m a real proud Bulldog on his way to achieving my dreams and getting the education my parents have always wanted for me,” Meza said.

For details contact Dr. Daniel Bernard, executive director of the Veterans Education Program, at 559.278.1901 or veteransedprogram@csufresno.edu.