1) Lopez named Fresno State’s first Gates Cambridge Scholar
Fresno State senior Stephanie Gabriela Lopez was awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, a full-ride graduate scholarship to University of Cambridge University. She is the first Fresno State student to receive the scholarship, which is considered one of the world’s most prestigious.
2) Armenian Genocide Memorial dedication
More than 4,000 gathered on the Maple Mall to witness the dedication of the Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State. The dedication coincided with the 100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide.
3) Graduate Art Studio opens in downtown Fresno
Graduate art students have a new studio and gallery in the M Street Arts Complex in downtown Fresno, thanks to a creative collaboration between the College of Arts and Humanities and Granville Homes.
4) New U.S. poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera praised as humble, champion of voices
For the second time in five years, a former Fresno State professor earned the nation’s highest poetry honor when Juan Felipe Herrera was named the 21st Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2015-2016.
5) Victor E. Bulldog III makes Fresno State debut
Fresno State welcomed its new live mascot, Victor E. Bulldog III, who was three months old when he was introduced to the community in June.
6) Bulldog Stadium renovation plans
Director of Athletics Jim Bartko announced a vision to modernize the 35-year-old Bulldog Stadium. The first wave of enhancements came in the summer with the installation of a new HD video board and LED ribbon board at the north end of the stadium.
7) Dream Outreach Center opens for undocumented students
A new center was established to address the unique needs and challenges faced by undocumented students who desire a college education.
8) Satellite location for Fresno State Autism Center opens at Valley Children’s Hospital
The Autism Center @ Fresno State opened its first satellite location at Valley Children’s Hospital, serving children ages 18 months to five years.
9) The Square at Campus Pointe opens
Located across from the Save Mart Center, The Square at Campus Pointe is a new urban street retail center featuring restaurants, shopping and Maya Cinemas.
10) Fresno State revives tradition, welcomes thousands of new students at convocation ceremony
The University breathed new life into a classic tradition with the New Student Convocation ceremony, which officially marks the start of the academic journey for new students.
11) University research uncovers significant drought impacts in San Joaquin Valley
A Fresno State study produced valuable new information on the impact of the drought, including as much as $3.3 billion in losses to agricultural revenue, public health impacts and a potential increase in mental health issues.
12) Physical Therapy and Intercollegiate Athletics Building opens on campus
A new 22,000-square-foot building opened in September to house the Department of Physical Therapy and offices for men’s and women’s basketball, softball and volleyball staff.
13) University researchers turn food waste into sustainable form of plastic
Dr. William Wright, a civil engineering professor in the Lyles College of Engineering, is working with students to produce bioplastic – a material derived from renewable resources, like food waste from food processing operations.
14) Fresno State police respond to social media threat
President Joseph I. Castro reached out to the campus community following a campus threat posted on the anonymous social media site Yik Yak.
15) Hmongstory 40 exhibit opens at Fresno Fairgrounds
Hmongstory 40, a new multimedia exhibit depicting the culture and history of Hmong communities in California, opens Dec. 12 at the Fresno Fairgrounds. Fresno State serves as a presenting sponsor of the event.
