20 reasons Fresno State is the Pride of the Valley
Fresno State is the Pride of the Valley – it has been for generations. This is a healthy pride – the type associated with self-esteem wins, not the seven deadly sins. For a region like the Central Valley, oft-overlooked in California, pride fuels purpose, rallies passion and unifies the people like nothing else can.
This pride gives the hardworking people of the Central Valley something to hang their sweaty, weathered caps on. It breeds commonality among the millions of people in one of the most diverse regions in the country.
The Bay Area has its tech, Southern California its movies and San Diego its beaches. But none of them can rival the passion and us-against-the-world mentality that Fresno State and its athletic teams generate for the people in Fresno and surrounding communities. As a 2013 Los Angeles Times headline read: “Fresno State’s football team is … perhaps unmatched for fan pride among college teams in California.”
So what makes Fresno State so special to this region? Perhaps it’s that Fresno State defines the region’s identity. Perhaps Fresno State gives the region an invitation to measure itself against the best and brightest. Perhaps it’s the personal connections, traditions and relationships built over decades and throughout generations that have allowed us all to see that a Fresno State education has no limits.
The reality is there are hundreds of things that make Fresno State the Pride of the Valley – and for each of us that list of things may be a little different. But next time you’re near a water cooler, on an elevator or defending your school against naysayers, here’s a list of 20 reasons Fresno State is the Pride of the Valley.
Green V
The Green V featured on the back of Fresno State’s football helmets and on the collar of the official four-paw logo symbolizes the pride Fresno State takes in representing the Central Valley. The V is green in recognition of the Valley being the leading agricultural region in the United States, and it has a Bulldog Red line through the middle, symbolizing Fresno State’s place in the center of the Valley.
The Central Valley stretches 450 miles through the heart of California, bordered by the Sierra Nevadas to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west. It is divided by the San Joaquin Valley in the south and the Sacramento Valley in the north, with Fresno State boasting the only major college football program between Sacramento and Los Angeles – an area roughly the size of the entire state of West Virginia, with a population similar to the state of Indiana.
Campus farm (Winery, corn)
The Gibson Farm Market on campus is well known for its student-produced goods, but when it comes to pride points, there are two headliners. In 1997, Fresno State became the first American university to operate a commercially bonded, on-campus winery. The award-winning Fresno State Wine has only grown in reach since, with more than 600 awards and over 20 varieties of wine.
Additionally, each summer community members flock to the Gibson Farm Market, lining up in the hundreds for that first taste of the seasonal Fresno State sweet corn, which was first planted on campus in 1981.
The university houses a 1,000-acre campus farm — the University Agricultural Laboratory — which contains 18 enterprises, including a vineyard, vegetable crops and beef, sheep and swine units, among others. Students operate the units, growing products that are sold at the university’s Gibson Farm Market, the Fresno State Creamery and the Fresno State Winery.
Pride and tradition (and tailgating)
There is perhaps nothing else in the Valley that unites people quite like Fresno State athletics. Fresno State football is the only event in the region that can attract more than 40,000 people from all backgrounds six times per year and rally them behind one common cause – regardless of race, religion or socio-economic status. It only takes one visit to a Fresno State tailgate – known as the biggest party in the Valley – to see, hear, feel and taste the passion for the local university.
Such is the power of Fresno State athletics. As the porchlight of the university, Bulldogs sporting events are oftentimes the first touchpoint connecting Central Valley youth to Fresno State. It’s a way to engage people of all ages and make them feel like they’re part of the university. There is potential that every fan who grows up rooting for the Bulldogs and wearing the gear will also explore the university’s academic offerings for themselves or their loved ones.
“When you look at sports loyalty, Fresno State is the single commonality that goes all the way from Modesto to Bakersfield and it might make inroads in Sacramento. You tell me what else other than Fresno State athletics unites the Valley like that.”
– Tony D’addato, longtime Valley broadcaster
Social mobility
One of the reasons Fresno State is consistently ranked among the top universities nationwide is because it is a driver of social mobility. Social mobility is defined as how well universities provide a college education at an affordable price, creating opportunities for students to move from one socioeconomic class to another.
Fresno State came in at No. 4 in the nation for social mobility in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings. The ranking focuses on the importance of student outcomes such as graduation rates and graduate salaries to help students and their families identify which colleges will do the most to help them graduate and make more money.
The university ranked No. 16 out of 1,205 schools in the 2024 Social Mobility Index published by CollegeNet, a provider of web-based on-demand technologies for higher education. Tuition, economic background, graduation rate, early career salary and the size of a school’s endowment are used to determine the rankings. The index also measures how a school’s messaging and communications teach faculty, students and the public about the institution’s attention to advancing social mobility.
Fresno State also ranked No. 31 for social mobility in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings.
Rising atop the rankings
As an overall university, Fresno State reached its highest ranking of all-time in this year’s Washington Monthly ranking of Best Colleges for your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars. Fresno State ranked as the No. 2 university among all public and private schools nationwide — ahead of Stanford, MIT and five Ivy League schools.
The Washington D.C.-based independent media organization has been ranking colleges since 2005, focusing on how well universities serve the public good through social mobility, research and public service. Fresno State is the only Mountain West university ranked in the top 30, as well as the only top-30 university slated for the revamped Pac-12 Conference, which Fresno State will join in July 2026.
In addition to Washington Monthly, Fresno State has been regularly recognized by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Money and other publications for its strong performance in social mobility, affordability and outcomes.
“I am overjoyed that our talented students get a world-class, comprehensive education at an affordable price. This ranking reaffirms our commitment to access and excellence. We educate tomorrow’s leaders who will elevate the quality of life in the Valley, the region and the world.”
– Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Fresno State president
First-generation students
While Fresno State celebrates the many second- and third-generation students on campus, there has long been a trend of first-generation college students in the region. At Fresno State today, 64% of students are the first in their immediate families to graduate from university.
Let that sink in – about two-thirds of Fresno State’s 24,000 students (or about 15,000 students) are first generation. That’s more than the total enrollment at 11 of the 22 California State University campuses.
Fresno State provides resources and support for first-generation students through programs like Bulldog Bound, a guaranteed admissions program for qualified applicants in local school districts, and the LaunchPad: Bulldog Bound Freshman Success Camp for incoming students who meet one-on-one with financial aid and academic counselors to create personalized course plans and financial success plans.
“For many first-generation students, Fresno State represents the most accessible path to earning a four-year degree. That’s why it is essential to expand opportunities through initiatives like Bulldog Bound, while also providing strong foundations for success through comprehensive onboarding experiences such as LaunchPad. Together, these efforts ensure students gain the knowledge, confidence and skills they need to achieve their academic and career goals.”
– Phong Yang, vice president, Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Community service hours
A new record, Fresno State students, faculty and staff contributed more than 1.6 million hours of service in 2024-25 — continuing a 16-year tradition of exceeding the 1 million mark.
That impact is valued at nearly $66.5 million, according to the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning. The services range from tutoring and blood drives to physical therapy projects, internships and community revitalization.
“Fresno State has been dedicated to serving our community for decades. Surpassing 1.6 million hours last year is an incredible achievement, but it is simply the most recent step in our ongoing commitment to engaging our students, staff and faculty in meaningful service,” said Chris Fiorentino, the longtime director of the Richter Center, who retired in August after 32 years on campus. “We look forward to continuing this commitment.”
Economic impact
Fresno State is a powerful engine of prosperity for the San Joaquin Valley, generating close to $1 billion dollars of annual economic activity, according to an economic impact report produced by the Craig School of Business.
Among the key findings in the report – economic activity by Fresno State and its auxiliaries generates an annual average of $954 million in business sales and $391 million in worker income, while supporting nearly 11,000 jobs. University-related activities generate over $49 million in annual tax revenue for the State of California and the San Joaquin Valley counties of Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare.
The report, conducted by Dr. Antonio Avalos, chair of the Economics Department, also found that Fresno State is a profitable investment for California taxpayers — the annual rate of return on state support for the university equals 6.23%.
The report measured not just immediate economic impact, but also the ripple effects caused by Fresno State’s economic activity. When the university pays salaries to its employees, these employees spend their earnings at local businesses, adding to the Valley’s business earnings and supporting more local jobs, and workers from these local businesses in turn create more economic activity.
Educating the workforce
Fresno State has long been the Valley’s top producer of talent across critical industries. Founded as a teacher’s college in 1911, the university now graduates more than 400 new teachers each year, and about 60% of school administrators in the region are Bulldogs — shaping the classrooms and futures of Valley youth.
In engineering, Fresno State graduates contribute to some of the state’s largest projects, from California High-Speed Rail to agricultural technologies and local infrastructure. Many choose to remain in the Valley, where their skills strengthen the regional economy and serve the communities they call home. Perhaps most eye-opening, the annual average salary for engineers in Fresno County is over $100,000.
In all industries, these graduates represent the backbone of the Valley’s workforce and the university’s lasting commitment to education and innovation. It is estimated that about 84% of Fresno State graduates stay and work in the Valley, contributing to communities up and down the region.
R2 research designation and doctoral programs
Who says a state school can’t be a research institution? Not only is research a high-impact practice at Fresno State, but the university also offers undergraduate students the type of research experience they may not have access to elsewhere.
Fresno State first earned its R2 research designation from Carnegie Classifications in 2022, and it was renewed in 2025. An institution is designated R2 status if it awarded at least 20 research doctorates and had at least $5 million in total research expenditures during the classification update year. Only eight of the 23 universities in the California State University system share this designation. Fresno State awarded 25 research doctoral degrees and spent $11.4 million on research expenditures in the 2022-23 academic year.
Since becoming the first California State University campus to offer independent doctoral degrees in 2007, Fresno State continues to reach new milestones. Originally, only the University of California schools were able to confer doctorates. But in 2005, the California Legislature approved independent doctoral programs at CSU campuses. In 2007, Fresno State began offering the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), and in 2008 added the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) began in 2013.
Notable alumni
From entrepreneurs and innovators, to authors and artists, to judges and politicians, there are countless examples of alumni who prove there is no limit to what Bulldogs can achieve.
Alumna Malinda Chouinard and her husband, Yvon, co-founded the popular outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, and were well known for their tireless advocacy in environmental sustainability. Alumna Rae Dunn earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Fresno State and worked in graphics and fashion design before creating one of the most recognizable clay pottery brands in the world, featuring her simple, enchanting font that has become the trademark of her designs.
Known as one of the top thriller and spy novelists of his time, author Daniel Silva is a Fresno State alumnus who has authored nearly three dozen books that were New York Times bestsellers. Known for titles like his debut novel, “The Unlikely Spy” in 1997, and “The Kill Artist,” Silva got his start in journalism before pursuing his passion as a novelist.
And did you know a Fresno State alumnus is responsible for developing Bluetooth technology? James Kardach, a graduate of the Lyles College of Engineering was a senior principal engineer at Intel and developed the hands-free communications technology.
These are just a few of the thousands of alumni who have gone on to tremendous accomplishments and who have gained notoriety worldwide.
Bulldogs in Hollywood
How many Bulldogs have you spotted in show biz? Alumna Emily Kuroda is well known for playing Mrs. Kim in “Gilmore Girls” and a host of other movies and shows. Dot-Marie Jones was a record-setting track and field athlete in the shot put at Fresno State before going on to play Coach Beiste in TV musical “Glee,” and has appeared in many other titles.
Alumnus Robert Beltran is best known for playing Commander Chakotay in the 1990s TV series “Star Trek-Voyager.” And Brandon Molale, the former Fresno State football standout, has several memorable roles including the character of Blazer in “Dodgeball,” quarterback Kevin Ward in “Mr. Deeds” and Guard Malloy in “The Longest Yard” with Adam Sandler.
Perhaps the best kept secret about Bulldogs in Hollywood is the story of alumnus Ross Bagdasarian Sr., the singer and songwriter who created “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and voiced the Alvin, Simon and Theodore characters. Working under his stage name, David Seville, Bagdasarian sped up tapes to modify the pitch and sound and recorded and produced music as “The Chipmunks” from the 1950s until his death in 1972. His son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., took over “The Chipmunks” after working with his father as a producer and recording engineer. He helped evolve the franchise with a popular cartoon in the 1980s. The franchise has continued to thrive with numerous modern-day movies.
A number of other alumni have gone on to successful careers behind the scenes, including Lou Pecora, an Academy Award nominee for his work on “X-Men” and “Transformers”; Brad Lewis, who produced “Antz” and “Ratatouille”; and the late Roy Christopher, an Emmy-winning TV set designer whose work included “The Richard Pryor Show,” “Frasier,” “Growing Pains” and “Murphy Brown.” Dr. Diana Meehan was a founding partner of VU Productions at Paramount Studios, the nonfiction arm of UBU Productions dedicated to creating documentary and reality-based programming for television on social issues regarding women, children and families.
These are just an example of the many Bulldogs with impressive Hollywood credentials. Look for more in future issues of Fresno State Magazine.
Superstar athlete alumni
In recent years, Fresno State has touted its superstar alumni in each of the three major professional sports leagues – home run king Aaron Judge in Major League Baseball, perhaps the NFL’s best wide receiver in Davante Adams and perennial NBA all-star and Olympian Paul George. Not to mention the Los Angeles Angels’ Taylor Ward having a career year with over 30 home runs and 100-plus RBI, and the recently retired Derek Carr ranking 22nd all-time in NFL passing yards with 41,245. And that’s just the current pros.
Past alumni include Super Bowl champion quarterback Trent Dilfer, former No. 1 overall draft pick David Carr and potential Hall of Famers in wide receiver Henry Ellard, fullback Lorenzo Neal and offensive lineman Logan Mankins.
In baseball, the Bulldogs also tout former National League MVP Terry Pendleton and former all-stars like pitcher Bobby Jones.
On the links, alumnus Nick Watney ranks 57th all-time on the PGA Tour in career earnings with Kevin Sutherland also in the top 150. And the list could go on.
In the Olympics, Fresno State has been represented 37 times by 26 different athletes and one coach, earning 14 gold medals. Gold medal winners include Laura Berg, who is the most decorated U.S. softball Olympian all-time, and fellow softball athletes Kim Maher, Martha Noffsinger-O’Kelley, Julie Smith, Shelly Stokes, Amanda Scott, Lovie Jung and coach Margie Wright. Baseball alumni have been represented by John Hoover, Tom Goodwin and Jeff Weaver; volleyball by Ruth Lawanson; wrestling by Stephen Abas; and men’s basketball by Paul George.
National championships
If there has ever been any doubt about Fresno State’s ability to compete at the highest level nationally, the Bulldogs have proven naysayers wrong time and again – with numerous conference titles, individual titles and even national championships.
On June 12-13, 1964, at Ratcliffe Stadium, coach Dutch Warmerdam led Fresno State to its first team national championship in any sport. Competing in the College Division prior to Fresno State’s Division I days, the team finished ahead of Long Beach State, Cal Poly, College of the Redlands, North Carolina and Ohio State.
In 1968, the men’s tennis team won the Division II national championship under coach Richard Murray with a win over Cal State Los Angeles in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fresno State softball captured the university’s first Division I team title in 1998 with a 1-0 victory over Arizona to win the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Coach Margie Wright had previously led the Bulldogs to three national runner-up finishes and 11 WCWS appearances.
Ten years later, under coach Mike Batesole, Fresno State baseball went from “Underdogs to Wonderdogs” on its way to the 2008 Men’s College World Series championship, defeating Georgia 6-1 in Game 3 of the final series. The win marked Fresno State’s first Division I team national championship in a men’s sport.
Pac-12 Conference
In a landmark move that signals a new chapter for Fresno State, the university is set to join the Pac-12 Conference in July 2026. After decades of success – from the Pacific Coast Athletic Association to the Big West, Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West – Fresno State continues to elevate its athletic program nationally.
In the new Pac-12, the Bulldogs will compete with longtime members Oregon State and Washington State, as well as new additions Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State. Men’s basketball power Gonzaga will join as a non-football member, and Dallas Baptist will join as a baseball-only member with a history of success on the diamond.
“Going to an iconic conference like the Pac-12, that has been around for over 100 years, immediately enhances the brand of not just our athletic department but our entire university. Yes, athletics is going to benefit immensely from playing against elite competition week in and week out, but I also believe academics is going to benefit through more opportunities like the potential for increased enrollment and new grant opportunities. Being able to partner with this group of schools is going to help the whole university succeed.”
– Garrett Klassy, Fresno State director of athletics
World-class facilities and entertainment on campus
Whether it’s the exhilarating drama of live Fresno State sporting events, or the star power of big-name concerts and acts, the Fresno State campus hosts an array of entertainment events that infuse energy into student life on campus and create a vibe throughout the surrounding Central Valley.
In August, the first-ever concert was held at Valley Children’s Stadium (the largest sports venue between Los Angeles and the Bay Area), when Shakira drew 36,000 fans. On the opposite side of the Fresno State grounds, the largest on-campus arena on the West coast, the Save Mart Center regularly hosts major acts in addition to men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball games. The arena’s concert resume includes Garth Brooks, Elton John, Britney Spears, Jay-Z, Metallica and many more.
On the athletics side, the Bulldogs have a softball stadium that has hosted several of the largest regular season crowds in NCAA softball history, including 5,724 fans in 2000 when Fresno State hosted Arizona. Across Cedar Avenue, Pete Beiden Field and Bob Bennett Stadium is one of the largest college baseball venues in the West.
Proximity to national parks
Fresno is the nation’s largest city within an hour-and-a-half drive of three national parks – Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia. Because of that, Fresno State students enjoy an unparalleled backyard, with not only easy access for recreational hiking, rockclimbing, skiing and other outdoor activities, but also unique opportunities to take courses that offer hands-on experiences in some of the most scenic landscapes in the nation – from Yosemite Falls and Half Dome in Yosemite, to the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon, to the General Sherman Tree and Crystal Cave in Sequoia.
For 20 years, professor Betsy Hays’ MCJ 157 “Public Relations and Advertising Agency” course has partnered with Yosemite National Park to give students experience on creating real-world campaigns. With Yosemite as their client, students are currently working on a campaign to educate visitors on the importance of reintroducing wildlife such as frogs, sheep and turtles to the park.
Fresno State’s Bio 167 “High Altitude Biology” incorporates Kings Canyon National Park into its curriculum, taking students on a field trip in which they complete a full-backpack hike to Mist Falls on the Paradise Valley Trail, starting at Cedar Grove. The class explores the biology of plants and animals that thrive at high elevations and often introduces students to long hikes with backpacks for the first time.
More than 10 courses on campus utilize the national parks, also including the Department of Recreation Administration and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
→ Did you know?
FRESNO IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE U.S. WITHIN A 1.5-HOUR DRIVE OF THREE NATIONAL PARKS.
Vintage Days
A beloved tradition since 1975, Vintage Days has evolved for more than 50 years and continues to welcome the surrounding community to campus in fun (sometimes quirky) ways. This past year, the spring festival attracted about 50,000 people to campus to enjoy street fair vendors, games, music, food and, of course, the beer and wine garden.
In the early days, musicians like Papa Doo Run Run and Tom Petty performed at Vintage Days, which grew to feature traditions like the air guitar competition, a street dance, tricycle races, inner tube water polo, cow chip tosses, frog jumping, a massive tarp slip-n-slide, casino nights and root beer chugging. The early years also featured a ceremonial parade where students from different clubs and organizations made shirts showing off silly team names (such as the “V.D. Crabs”) and were judged for creativity.
“Our campus sometimes gets segmented by your college, school or major. When you go to Vintage Days, it’s more about student life. Those walls or categories disappear, and we’re all Fresno State Bulldogs for a weekend. Vintage Days is a place to embrace the student body outside of the classroom. Those are the memories — beyond dissecting a frog.”
– Peter Robertson, director of development, Fresno State Alumni Association
Bulldog Marching Band
The Bulldog Marching Band represents Fresno State as the largest and winningest college marching band of its kind, having been recognized by the College Band Directors National Association as one of the country’s top eight college marching bands.
The Bulldog Marching Band is the largest student organization on campus, and its members come from every major at Fresno State. The band started in 1926 and grew to more than 200 members in the mid-1980s. Today, the “Best Band in the West” has its largest membership with about 270 members.
The Bulldog Marching Band performed at the 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland and has performed in the Rose Parade in Pasadena two of the past three years.
“The Tournament of Roses Parade is the pinnacle of honor for a college marching band, and I am immensely proud of what our student-musicians have achieved.”
– Steve McKeithen, director, Bulldog Marching Band
TimeOut and Victor E.
Legend has it that in 1921 student body President Warren Moody and friends were continually greeted on campus by a white bulldog. Soon, students were bringing the nameless pooch to football games, and Arids Walker made the motion to adopt the nickname in a student body meeting. On Nov. 21, the Morning Republican first referred to Fresno State as the Bulldogs. Today, the university is represented by iconic costumed mascot TimeOut and live mascot Victor E. Bulldog IV.
In 1981, student Gary Johns designed the familiar gray and white TimeOut costume, and though it has evolved over the decades, TimeOut remains a beloved fixture at sporting events and in the community.
Several live mascots have represented the Bulldogs through the years, with Victor E. Bulldog being introduced in 2006. The university is now in its Victor E. Bulldog IV era, with Victor E. III enjoying retirement. The beloved mascots bring joy to children and adults alike, posing for photos and engaging the fan base on gamedays and at community events.
Written by Eddie Hughes (‘05); Illustrations by Todd Graves (‘03)
