With a small jazz ensemble playing an Edward Elgar and Tim Shaghoian arrangement of Pomp and Circumstance to a quick, smooth swing, about 500 students emerged from the arena tunnels, waving at friends and family in the audience.
While the bachelor’s degree looks great on paper to the parole board, the humanities courses have taught incarcerated individuals to reflect on their past and write their own story for their future.
We are excited to acknowledge the achievements of our College’s most accomplished students. From the creative artists to the humanists, every scholarship winner and Student of Distinction reflects the experimentation, compassion, and curiosity that Fresno State fosters.
Even as Rodriguez moves on to the next chapter of his life as a college graduate who became a champion, the impact he leaves at Fresno State will continue to inspire.
The 2022 commencement was especially unique as both President’s Medalists and honorary doctorate degrees were awarded to a single college within the university.
The breeze rejuvenated as it passed through the masked students in the warm May evening while graduates congregated outside Bulldog Stadium ahead of commencement. For many, this was among the first gatherings in the 14 months since the quarantine lockdown