Lyles Center hosts two competitions May 3
The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will host its annual $10K Business Plan finals and Elevator Pitch on Saturday, May 3. Elevator Pitch gives Fresno State and community college students the opportunity to "sell" their business idea to a panel of judges in the 90 seconds it would take for an elevator ride. Teams qualifying for the business plan finals are MEMS/Silicon Microphone Sensor, whose adviser is Chung Hoon Lee (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Tomorrow's Music: New Media, Corey Whitehead (Music); and EdHead.com, Mike Summers (Lyles Center). Click here for details.

Espinoza is final speaker in Cross Cultural Lecture series
Alex Espinoza (English) will deliver the final presentation of the semester in the new Cross Cultural Lecture Series, coordinated by the Central Valley Cultural Heritage Institute. Espinoza's topic is "Fiction and Culture." He will speak at 6 p.m. May 8 in University Center, Room 202. There is no admission charge.

Fresno author Soto speaks on campus
Award-winning author Gary Soto, a Fresno native, will speak May 9 at the Friends of the Madden Library program in the Alice Peters Auditorium. A reception at 6 p.m. will be followed at 6:30 by his lecture on "Local News: the Shaping of a Writer," based on his book of short stories about growing up in Fresno. Reservations are required by calling 278.5790.

Engineering presents Starlight Gala on May 9
The College of Engineering is taking reservations for its Starlight Gala dinner and dance at 6 p.m. May 9 at Pardini's Catering. A highlight of the evening is recognition of the college's Outstanding Community Partners. Tickets are $25 per person and proceeds benefit Pathways: College of Engineering Student Services Program. Tickets are available online at coersvp@csufresno.edu.

Applicants sought for health policy leaders program
Fresno State's Health Policy Leadership Program seeks applications from government, advocacy, public health, education, business and media leaders for its fourth cohort beginning May 23. The university-based Central Valley Health Policy Institute organizes the one-of-a-kind, intensive program designed to promote collaborations to meet challenges of the region's unique health and health care challenges. Click here for details.

Southwest Airlines offers free travel for students
Southwest Airlines and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities are encouraging students to take advantage of “Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito (Giving Flight to Your Success)” an education travel award program. Applications are due May 30 for up to four complimentary roundtrip airline tickets for undergraduate and graduate students or their parents with financial need to travel in pursuit of higher education. For details, contact Tanya Crabb at University Outreach Services (call 278.2048 or e-mail tcrabb@csufresno.edu).

Registrations taken for Osher Institute summer daytrips
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's summer schedule includes guided tours of Yosemite National Park (June 13) and Hearst Castle (July 15). Osher programs at Fresno State are designed for retired and semi-retired adults or anyone 50 and older interested in intellectual stimulation. Click here for details.

June 16 deadline for 2009-10 Rotary Ambassadorial program
The Rotary Club of Fresno invites students who want to study abroad to apply by June 16 for 2009-10 Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial scholarships. Awards of up to $24,000 are available to pay for an academic year's tuition, travel, room, board, insurance, etc. Eligible candidates can apply online at http://www.rotary.org or contact the International Programs Office at 278.6452.