Tony Salazar is the undergraduate student of distinction from the Department of Media, Communications and Journalism (MCJ) with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism with an emphasis in journalism and a minor in criminology. He is also working to obtain his meteorology certificate.
“Tony is far from a so-called regular student. From the moment he stepped on campus, he was dedicated to his craft, working toward his major goal: to excel in broadcast journalism and earn a job in that field upon graduation,” said lecturer Kim Stephens.
She went on to call him “a quiet but mighty leader.”
Salazar is from the small town of Exeter, known for its navel oranges, at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
“Since the start of my college career in the fall of 2018, I promised myself that I would get as involved as I could in extracurricular activities,” said Salazar. “It’s a promise that I told myself while I was in high school and is something that I wanted to carry on in my college career.”
Salazar joined the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) club at Fresno State in the fall of 2018. Within a year, he became an officer and was later chosen to be president of the club.
“He has embraced the ability to share the experiences of others on all of the journalism platforms available to him. Tony will also graduate with a certificate in broadcast meteorology, adding to his already-overflowing storytelling toolbox,” said Dr. Carey L. Higgins-Dobney, assistant professor of broadcast and multiplatform journalism.
“I would like to come back to Fresno and continue my news reporting career, as this is where everything started for me,” Salazar said. “Nonetheless, what’s essential for me is that I want to give a voice to the voiceless and give back to my community—as I have lived here throughout my entire life. By becoming involved in school and maintaining my good grades, I am confident that I will call this dream a reality.”
The College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State 