December 07, 2007

As the Bulldog football team prepares to take on Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl on Monday, Dec. 31, California State University, Fresno has been touched by a humanitarian story that unfolded nearly 200 miles away involving a youngster inspired by the 'Dogs.

When Mikey Terrones was an eighth-grader in 2003, he wrote his goals for his senior year - 2007 - which included pursuing a degree at Fresno State and playing football for the Bulldogs. He saw a journey through Fresno State as a big step toward being successful and helping people in need.

Two years later, Mikey died in a tragic car accident in the Santa Barbara County community of Lompoc, southwest of Fresno.

His goals came to light earlier this year when the letter he wrote as an eighth-grade assignment was delivered to his parents. Mikey's letter and those of his classmates had been sealed and held for re-opening in the students' senior year. Lompoc High School counselor Mary Anne Rios, who was working on a memorial for Mikey, delivered the letter to his parents.

"I want to go to Fresno State," Mikey said in his handwritten two-page letter dated May 14, 2003.

"I hope I can make pros in football. I think I can as long as I practice and try hard. All the hard work would pay off. I would share my money with everybody. I would help my family pay their bills if they need it, give it to schools, hospitals, homeless and my grandpa for his kidney."

On Oct. 31, 2005, Mikey Terrones and two Lompoc High football teammates were leaving practice when their car crashed. Mikey and Brice Fabing, 17, died. Only Darrell Solorio, 17, survived.

Mikey's father and stepmother, Michael and Lupe Terrones, decided to honor his memory and his humanitarian intentions this year by establishing the Mikey Terrones Memorial Holiday Toy Drive. On Dec. 8, the community made the effort a huge success, providing toys for the annual Toys for Tots program and for the Trinity Church of the Nazarene's distribution to community's children.

"We were anticipating maybe about a hundred gifts that could be donated," said Michael. "We stopped counting at about 300 and [people] were still coming to our home to drop them off."

Upon hearing about Mikey's letter and the toy drive, Fresno State decided it, too, would honor the youngster who aspired to come to campus to study and play football. The Terrones family was contacted and invited to attend a Bulldog football game next fall.

Michael Terrones said his son loved football and that he wanted to play for the Bulldogs. "If Mikey had come to Fresno State, not only could he have possibly been a Bulldog football player, but he most certainly would have found himself at a university that is big on giving to others, to helping its community, to demonstrating a humanitarian spirit," said Dr. Peter Smits, vice president of advancement.

Which Bulldog home game the family will attend is pending. The family also will tour the campus and meet with Coach Pat Hill, President John D. Welty and the Bulldog football team. The visit also will help promote the Terrones family's toy drive that will be held the second Saturday of December every year, according to Lupe Terrones.

"As Fresno State heads to the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, we are inspired by Mikey who would have been a freshman at Fresno State this semester and by his family's efforts to carry out his spirit of community service and the intent of his dream," Smits said.

Mikey's mother, Cheryl Hiatt, said she looks forward to seeing the campus that her son wanted to attend and hopes it will inspire his siblings to pursue a higher education.

In addition to his parents, Mikey is survived by his brother, Cooper, 13, half-brother, David, 4, and half-sister, Victoria, born Dec. 27; and two stepbrothers, Ray, 19, and Joseph, 11.

After Mikey's death, the Lompoc High Braves dedicated their next game to the three players. The Terrones family was presented with Mikey's letterman's jacket and his No. 52 jersey framed with wood taken from the stadium where he played.