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In May, many universities watch their students embark on a new phase of life at commencement ceremonies. Graduation signals a new time in life, a time to acknowledge achievements and to set new goals. At Fresno State, commencement is a time for the entire community to come together and celebrate.

“That celebration usually attracts up to 10,000 participants,” says Dr. Paul Oliaro, Vice President for Student Affairs. “It is really a celebration of the Central Valley.”

Since its beginnings as Fresno State Normal School on September 11, 1911, at Stanislaus and O streets in downtown Fresno, the number of students graduating from the school has grown. On June 7, 1912, the school’s first graduating class had 31 women and two men. The number went up to 109 graduates the next year, and in 1914, the school moved to the University and Van Ness avenues, the current location of Fresno City College. The graduation ceremony was then held at the Normal Court over five days, which became a tradition thereafter.

Over the years, Fresno State has developed special graduation traditions that are cherished today, such as carrying the mace.

“The history behind carrying the mace is that it is our most senior faculty member who has the most years of service on our campus who is the person who has the privilege of being the mace barer,” says Oliaro. “The mace barer leads the entire ceremony and the procession of students, faculty, staff, and platform party to begin the commencement ceremony.”

 “I really enjoy the tradition of having a graduating music major sing the Alma Mater at the conclusion of the ceremony,” says Gary Nelson, coordinator of Student Activities and Leadership Development. “I also enjoy the more recent tradition of displaying the flags representing the home country for all of that year’s graduates.”

Everything at commencement has not always gone smoothly, however. “About 10 years ago when we had graduation at Bulldog Stadium, we had a problem with our music,” Nelson said. “It was a very hot day and all the music was on cassette tape. By the end of the ceremony, it had become so hot that when we tried to play the music for the Alma Mater the tape would not play. Luckily the singer had been prepared that, if for any reason the music did not play, she was to sing a cappella. The singer quickly realized there was a problem with the music and sang without the music. The singing was superb and many people commented how much they enjoyed the singing. Since that time, we have always had the singer sing the Alma Mater a cappella.”

Other traditions also began as a way to solve problems. The practice of having the graduates enter the commencement area with regalia in hand began when graduation was moved from Selland Arena to Bulldog Stadium and some students decided to smuggle champagne bottles under their regalia, which resulted in numerous corks popping off bottles during the ceremony. In order to solve this problem, officials decided that all graduates would have to line up with their regalia in hand. Today, the university continues the practice.

Most people who attend today’s graduation ceremonies are not aware of just how much preparation and work goes into each ceremony. But Nelson has to prepare each year for commencement by recruiting 40 marshals to help get the graduates, faculty, and platform party lined up, lead them in the processional, and direct them to their seats. He also works with offices on campus to write, format, edit, and print the script. His office produces an information guide for graduates to answer questions they might have regarding the ceremony. In addition, he is responsible for purchasing flags representing the country of origin for each of the graduates and for developing a pattern to hang the flags in the arena. He also works with personnel from SMG, the group that manages the Save Mart Center, to schedule parkers, police, video crew, custodial, union workers, ushers, and emergency aid for the ceremony.

All this work goes into making each graduation ceremony special. The university holds several convocation ceremonies prior to the main university commencement and two special celebrations Saturday morning for African American and Latino graduates.

Many people treasure commencement as a time to celebrate the hard work and dedication of every Fresno State student and to recognize achievements of outstanding students.

“There are many special moments at our graduation ceremonies in addition to the fact that the president will confer all the degrees in the middle of the ceremony, but for me the more special components of that ceremony is the recognition of all the Dean’s Medalists,” says Oliaro. “Each college and school, along with the Division of Student Affairs, has an opportunity to identify and recognize a single graduating senior who has been recognized for their achievement academically, for their community service, and for their leadership on campus.”

Over the years, there have been many traditions and campus. This year, a new tradition begins. “It was a tradition brought to our attention by students,” says Oliaro. “They suggested that there should be a way for students to be able to give each other a paw pin representative of Fresno State. So when students enter the Save Mart Center and line up prior to the procession, they will receive a paw pin symbolic of Fresno State. At the very end of the ceremony, when our Alumni Association representative welcomes all students as new alums, they will be asked to pin the little paw pin on the student next to them.”

The rich history of commencement traditions at Fresno State now includes something to remind graduates of the time when they were Bulldogs. As the saying goes, “Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.”

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