More than 1,600 Fresno Unified School District seniors are conditionally admitted to Fresno State each fall – the University’s largest feeder district – and tonight 475 FUSD graduates-to-be and their families who signed up to participate in the new “College Send-Off Reception” will be recognized for their high school success with a special medallion presented by the University.

The reception, from 5:45 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at the Hoover High School Event Center, also celebrates the “very strong partnership” between Fresno Unified and the University, said Phong Yang, undergraduate student recruitment director at Fresno State.

In addition to presenting a special medallion to each participating student commemorating their success, Fresno State will announce 12 scholarship recipients.

The event precludes the upcoming May 1 deadline for freshman to accept their University admission.

“This is the first time we are hosting this type of event to welcome future Fresno State Bulldogs, but more importantly this is the University going into the community to recognize and celebrate the success of students before they even set foot in the classroom,” said Yang, who expects   about 1,500 people total to attend the free event.

He said FUSD consistently provides Fresno State with the largest number of freshman applicants and of the 1,512 Fresno students admitted last (2016), 811 enrolled. For the fall 2017 semester, 1,622 have been conditionally admitted to date. (For tonight’s new event, all conditionally admitted students were invited to participate with 475 signing up for it).

The reception will begin with a resource fair from 5:45-6:15 p.m. featuring Fresno State services for students and parents. The district will provide refreshments.

The University Medallion presentation will be at 7:40 p.m. by Dr. Frank Lamas, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; FUSD Trustee Claudia Cazares; and Bob Nelson, FUSD interim superintendent.

Speakers will also include Maxine McDonald, associate vice president of Student Success Services and Dr. Malisa Lee, associate vice president of Enrollment Services as well as alumni and parent representatives.

For more information, contact Yang at pyang@csufresno.edu or 559.278.1164.