Students and families from across the Valley gathered at Fresno State on Oct. 5 to take part in the university’s 9th Feria de Educación, an annual event meant to empower the Spanish-speaking community and connect them with resources to set themselves up for success in higher education.
Feria de Educación was implemented at Fresno State and other California State University campuses in partnership with Univision as part of the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025, aimed at eliminating equity gaps in college readiness and degree completion.
“We are expecting 5,000 people today,“ University President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said in his opening remarks. “That is 5,000 people that will learn about the power of higher education today.”
An all day event, Feria de Educación offered a resource fair, access to immigration services, campus tours, a kids area and reading garden. Feria included a variety of informative workshops on topics including financial aid and scholarship opportunities, what to expect during the first year of college and developing social-emotional skills.
Feria de Educación also emphasized and celebrated Hispanic/Latinx art and culture, with performances from Mariachi Orgullo Fresno State, Los Danzantes de Aztalan and Osmar Villa Beltran, a ranchero singer and aspiring Bulldog currently attending Fresno City College. Throughout the day, families were also able to tour ‘Wings of the City,’ the newly installed art exhibit in the Maple Mall, featuring five sculptures by world-renowned Mexican artist Jorge Marín.
Martina Granados, senior director of Outreach and Special Programs at Fresno State, explained the significance of the statues’ presence at Feria de Educación.“For some of our familias, this will be their first exposure to art of that kind,” Granados said.
“It’s important for our familias to see themselves represented and envision themselves here; this is their campus and they are welcome here. They belong here. I’m a first-generation student, I graduated from Fresno State, I know the impact events like this can have.”
Among the thousands of this year’s attendees was Alan Araujo, a fifth grader from Parlier. Araujo shared he was so excited to attend Feria de Educación that he woke up that morning at 4 a.m. He looks forward to participating in more outreach programming and later becoming a Bulldog.
As a Hispanic Serving Institution, Fresno State sees tens of thousands of students like Araujo on campus each year. In the 2023-24 academic year, Hispanic students made up 58.5% of the student population, and this fall made up over 60%. And, like Granados, many of those students are first-generation college students.
“Our students and alumni have been and continue to be trailblazers, using the power of higher education to better their lives and that of their communities and future generations,” said Dr. Kent Willis, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
“We offer programming and services to help students be successful in their studies and their lives overall, year-round. And with many of our staff and faculty being Bulldog alumni and over 25% of them with a Hispanic background, they can directly relate to the experiences of our students and offer them the guidance and mentorship needed.”
In addition to specialized outreach programming, Hispanic/Latinx students can participate in a variety of specialized support services once they are fully enrolled at the university, including those offered by the College Assistance Migrant Program and the DREAM Success Center.
With its continued efforts to support Hispanic/Latinx students, Fresno State was recently recertified with the Seal of Excelencia, a prestigious recognition “for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally serve Latino students.”
Visit https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/student-resources.html to learn more about programs and services available through the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
