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Farewell to President John D. Welty

President Welty lists these as his favorite moments at Fresno State:

  • Commencements– Dr. Welty has awarded upwards of 83,000 bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees at Fresno State. He also has presented 31 honorary doctorates to individuals who have excelled at the national or local level in careers and support for public higher education. 

 

  • National recognition for community service -- The Corporation for National and Community Service honored Fresno State in 2008 with a Special Achievement Award as part of the second annual President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Fresno State was one of two minority-serving institutions that received the special achievement award in recognition of its commitment to service.

 

  • Engaged University status – The Carnegie Foundation recognized Fresno State’s broad range of service to the community by granting Engaged University status in 2006 – one of just 76 institutions to win the honor.

 

  • NCAA Softball National Championship – In 1998, the Fresno State team, coached by Margie Wright and playing home games at the then-recently-opened Bulldog Diamond, went 52-11 and beat Arizona State in Oklahoma City to win the university’s first NCAA top-division championship.

 

  • NCAA Baseball National Championship – In 2008, underdog Fresno State established a 47-31 record under Coach Mike Batesole and came from the brink of elimination six times before defeating Georgia at the College World Series.

 

  • Centennial Celebration – In 2011, Fresno State turned 100 and the campus and community celebrated for 14 months in 2010-11 with such events as a Centennial Homecoming Parade through campus, a gala dinner-dance and the 100th Commencement.

 

 

  • 1992 Freedom Bowl – Fresno State stunned USC’s Trojans 24-7 in the Freedom Bowl football game in Anaheim after winning the Western Athletic Conference championship under Coach Jim Sweeney.