(soft music)
- I am Shelby Elia.
- Juan Guzman.
- Troy Watson.
- Camerina Angelica Morales.
- I am Lillian Grace Sumption Senn.
- Mason Lamb.
- Arnold Treviño.
- Shannon Muzio.
- Kaylee Gutierrez.
- I'm Alyssa Nishikawa.
- I am Maria Diaz.
- Anthony Mele.
- Andrea Fernandez Soto.
- Cirenio Hisasaga.
- Katie Reilly.
- I'm Khoi Quach.
- Theresa Monreal.
- Primavera Leal Martinez.
And I'm a part of the Barking Bulldogs debate team,
and last year when I attended
the national debate tournament,
I was awarded the All American Debater award,
and it's one of the highest honors
that is awarded nationally to a student.
And it was really awesome to be recognized and awarded
by a community of people who I really respect.
- I had the opportunity to go to Hong Kong, China
with a couple of professors on campus
to go to the International Victimology Conference.
So that was an awesome opportunity.
I was actually able to present some of my research
to some of the top people in the field.
- My field of study is mechanical engineering
with a specialty in fluid mechanics.
I'm passionate about it because
honestly my father got me into it.
He's a mechanic, and he's always saying,
"Where are these problems coming from?"
If you catch the problem before it happens,
there is no problem.
And you can save people's lives, you can save money.
And that's what kind of keeps me going,
is kind of helping everyone out before there is a problem.
- The moment I started my journey at Fresno State,
I connected with the campus in ways that I can't explain.
Being able to work
in the new student union project on campus,
that took a long time.
I began working on that project when I was only
an undergrad student.
And for the students to actually approve the project
this past year I think was one of the best experiences
and memories that I have with Fresno State.
- I love marketing because it gives people
an opportunity to really connect with one another,
and I think, as business leaders,
we have an incredible opportunity
to really make the world a better place.
So whether that's through social engagement
or just being ethical in your day-to-day business decisions.
- Since 1986 until 2011 I spent in prison.
I did 25 years in prison.
And people who have been impacted
by the criminal justice system,
today when I run into them they automatically feel
like they can't go on because they have a background.
And I like working with them,
and I like to share my story with them.
I let 'em know, hey, you know what,
this is where I'm at today.
I know where I was yesterday, and today and the future,
it doesn't have to be that way. We could always change.
- I think my proudest academic achievement
is getting a 4.0 throughout my graduate experience.
We come here and we immerse ourselves,
and we get a whole rainbow of opportunities.
My experience here shaped everything.
If I would not have come here, I would not be where I am.
- My major's animal science.
However, I'm focusing on poultry science.
I am very passionate about it
because there is a great amount of opportunities,
and I've gotten some research experience,
some internship experience.
After graduation, I will be starting my master's here
and afterwards attend a Ph.D. program.
- So mathematics is basically
this beautiful complex universal language.
Once you extrapolate on the idea,
it can become universal and beautiful
and relevant to other fields of studies.
My plans after graduation would be
getting a master's in mathematics and try to go back
where I came from, which is Guadalajara,
and try to help those little girls like me
that felt that there were nothing.
- There is one professor who really impacted my life,
and he really showed me how much
marketing was my true passion.
And because of that, he really transformed
the classroom for me.
It inspired me to wanna get my Ph.D. so I could become
a professor some day as well,
so I can provide students the same kind of value
I received in the classroom here at Fresno State.
- If you want to hear your art come to life,
you have to trust other people
to bring that music to life.
So what I do as a composer is not just writing music
for the listener, I'm also writing for the player.
That's what compels me as a composer,
to work with talented people,
to be custodians of people's emotions,
and, in my own small way,
to make the world a better place through music.
- I am a social work major,
and the reason why I chose this career,
is because I love helping people, I love meeting people.
And I want to advocate for the people
that do not have a voice.
- My proudest academic achievement was probably
maintaining my summa cum laude standing,
while still being a student-athlete.
It is very challenging.
So traveling, missing class grew increasingly difficult,
but with the support of my peers and the support
of my professors I was able to still achieve
really high marks in all of my classes.
- And I was actually incarcerated as a 17-year-old
for a gang-related incident.
For me, it's just something that represents
formerly incarcerated people in a different light.
So after graduation, I'll be heading to UC Berkeley
in the fall for the sociology Ph.D. program.
- Through Fresno State, I will be graduating
with a major in communicative sciences and deaf studies,
with an emphasis in audiology.
I grew up with a hearing loss.
I grew up going to audiologists all the time,
so I kinda felt that no one quite understood
what I was going through.
So I chose audiology,
because I knew that I could make a big difference
in this field,
and I could use my journey and my experience
to benefit others.
- My college experience shaped who I am
by helping me understand that it's not about
how fast you get there.
It's about taking the path that makes the most sense for you
and enjoying it along the way.
- So I received my undergraduate degree
from UC Santa Cruz in history,
and, being from Fresno originally, when I moved back home,
I was really interested in getting involved
in the agricultural community.
I really fell in love with agricultural research
while doing the master's program here at Fresno State.
And one of the things that's the most important to me
is to be involved in work that has
a direct impact here locally.
- I'm gonna be a fourth grade teacher.
And I'm just passionate about going into teaching
because I see the need for high-quality teachers
who are passionate.
If we wanna instill a love for learning in our students
and get them to higher education,
it's important to start at the young age
such as elementary school.
- My grandparents originally immigrated from Mexico
and they worked in the fields,
and my parents worked in the fields when they were younger,
until they were able to acquire their education.
And I think that that upbringing and that just mentality
of working hard and respecting others and being humble
really shaped who I am today.
But I wanna use the skills that I acquired from my degree
in English and my master's degree in communication
in order to attend law school,
and, ultimately, be a representative
for those who are underserved in our community.
- I think it's gonna be really impactful
showing the other inmates what can be
if you wanna change.
Through an education, miracles happen.
(inspiring music)