By Eddie Hughes
Republished from FresnoStateNews.com
Primavera Leal Martinez and Anthony Mele were awarded the University’s top academic honors at Fresno State’s 108th Commencement Saturday, May 18, at the Save Mart Center.
Martinez and Mele were chosen from a group of nine Undergraduate Deans’ Medalists and nine Deans’ Graduate Medalists.
Martinez, of Sanger, was selected as the President’s Medalist, the University’s top honor for an undergraduate student. She earned a bachelor’s in English from the College of Arts and Humanities in three years with a 3.91 GPA.
Martinez is a champion of debate, having received national recognition with the All-American Debater Award by the Cross-Examination Debate Association. She has also coached bilingual students in the Urban Debate Leagues.
Martinez served as vice president of external affairs for the Associated Students, Inc., was a student representative on the Student Success Summit committee, a student representative for the College of Arts and Humanities, editor in chief of La Voz de Aztlán and a volunteer for Camp Kesem, a free camp for children affected by a parent’s cancer.
She has also advocated for DACA students and migrant workers. Martinez plans to pursue a master’s degree in communication and coach the Fresno State Barking Bulldogs debate team before entering law school. Her goal is to become an immigration lawyer to advocate for those forgotten by the immigration system and who are most in need.
The College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State 
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