T H E   B U L L D O G   B Y T E

JUNE 2004

Games of the XXVIII Olympiad
August 13-29; Athens, Greece.
Fresno State is proud to have two former Bulldogs on the US Olympic Teams: Laura Berg [1998] and Stephen Abas [2004]. Show your Bulldog Pride and support our alumni athletes in Athens!

Softball: Laura Berg
August 14-23; Olympic Softball Stadium; Athens. Former Fresno State softball standout Laura Berg [1998], a two-time Olympic gold medalist [Atlanta, 1996; Sydney, 2000] makes her third trip to the Olympics. Berg, a four-time All-American, is also a three-time Pan American Games gold medalist and a three-time ISF World Champion. She was named Outstanding Alumna for Athletics by the Fresno State Alumni Association at the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala in 2003.

PLAY LAURA BERG TRIBUTE VIDEO

RECENT UPDATE from LAURA BERG
at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA: "This has been a very busy month for the team and me. We started our second tour with a bang.  First, we went to New York City for a USOC Media Summit.  I was on “Late Night with David Letterman!” It was so much fun. A few of us were also on the “Today Show.” There were 10 Olympic athletes picked to do the Top 10 List. 

We then went to San Antonio.  We played one game and won 10 to 0. We’ve also traveled to Mississippi and Missouri. I'm hoping to see the Bulldog softball team in the College World Series.

Thanks to all the Bulldogs for the support! Go Dogs!"

Wrestling: Stephen Abas
August 22-29; Ano Liossia Olympic Hall; Athens. Former Fresno State grappler Stephen Abas [2004], a three-time NCAA Champion [1999, 2001, 2002], a four-time All-American [1998, 1999, 2001, 2002] and a Pan-American gold medalist [2003] makes his first trip to the Olympics.  He is also a World Cup Champion [2002] and winner of the Titan Games [2003]. Abas was named Fresno State's Male Athlete of the Year in both 1999 and 2001.

PLAY STEPHEN ABAS TRIBUTE VIDEO

RECENT UPDATE from STEPHEN ABAS at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO: "Moving to the Olympic Training Center has given me the best chance to get better. It has been the greatest move for me all-around. I was a little surprised that Sammie Henson [2000 US Olympic Silver Medalist] made the decision to wrestle, but it’s an Olympic year. I expect anybody that feels that they have a chance to come out. I knew that being tough on Sammie would be the key to me winning the US Olympic Trials and making the team. [Abas beat Henson 3-0 in the finals at the US Olympic Trials last month.]

I’ve trained my entire life for this year. Going to the Olympics is the only thing that I’ve worked for. It’s a dream come true. I’m going for the Gold, now. I’m focusing on the medal!

The support from all the Bulldogs has been great, too. Thanks. Go Dogs!"

NOTES OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT:
Please send to LAURA BERG and/or STEPHEN ABAS: FRESNO STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | Smittcamp Alumni House | 2526 E. Keats Ave. | SH124 | Fresno | CA | 93740-8000.
 

 FSAA Upcoming Events

Bulldog Family Camp
August 15-21; Wonder Valley Ranch, Sanger. Fabulous fun for the entire family! Take the most memorable vacation you’ll ever experience. Details online. Special discounts for FSAA Members! Call toll-free: [800] 821-2801.

FSAA Annual Meeting!
Wednesday, August 25 at 6:00 PM; Smittcamp Alumni House at Fresno State. Reception immediately following meeting. Come and learn more about how to get involved: chapters, volunteer opportunities, committees and events. Please RSVP by August 24 to [559] 278-4577.

SAVE THE DATE:
Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala
Thursday, October 28, Location to be determined. Join the Fresno State Alumni Association, friends and student scholarship recipients for an evening honoring Fresno State Bulldogs. More information will be announced in August.

SAVE THE DATE: Homecoming 2004
Saturday, October 30, Fresno State vs. SMU, Bulldog Stadium. Join Fresno State Bulldogs for a tailgate, appearances from Time Out, the Fresno State Cheerleaders and the Fresno State Marching Band. Additional details will be announced in August.

Fresno State Alumni Merchandise: Available at the Bulldog Shop, the Kennel Bookstore and the Save Mart Center
Show your Bulldog Loyalty and wear your Bulldog Pride. FSAA members can save 10% on "Red Wave" clothing, too! Online at Bulldog Shop and Kennel Bookstore.

Keep Practicing the
Alma Mater and Fight Song!
Join all Fresno State Bulldogs in singing the Alma Mater and Fight Song! [Download the sheet music to the Alma Mater and Fight Song!] “Thy sons and daughters hail thee great, Our Alma Mater Fresno State!”

[PLAY] Alma Mater   |   [PLAY] Fight Song
 

18% Discount with CVIP Dial-up!
Dial up access is regularly priced at $16.50 per month, but FSAA members receive a 18% discount to just $13.50 per month. Central Valley Internet Project, owned and operated by Fresno State, is a not-for-profit Internet Service Provider. Call CVIP today at [559] 278-1111 to take advantage of this special discount!

NEW: Office Depot Program
Let your FSAA Membership work for you! Save up to 60% on office supplies! Take advantage of the buying power of 200,000 Fresno State alumni! Valid in 840 locations throughout the United States for both households and businesses. Click here for online application.

University Theatre:
2004-05 Season
Includes “Hayfever,” “Extremities,” “Rhinoceros,” “Rumors,” the Portable Dance Troupe, and “Henry VI, Part I.” Season tickets are $60. Save $10 with a FSAA membership. Call 559 278-2216.
 

Did you know?
The Fresno State Alumni Association [FSAA] allocates 10% of annual membership fees to a Student Scholarship Endowment Fund! In 2003-04, the FSAA awarded 70 scholarships totaling $78,000 to students based on academic achievement and financial need. The FSAA leads all of the alumni associations of the 23 campuses of the CSU system with student scholarship giving!

Support students and Fresno State!
Join the Fresno State Alumni Association today!

A Fresno native, Amanda Fitts has maintained a 3.85 GPA and is a senior majoring in speech language pathology. She’s also the treasurer of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association. “I’m completing my degree with the assistance that the FSAA has given me,” she said. “With this support, I’ll be able to pursue graduate school next year.”

Freshman James Anthony Dunbar comes from a Fresno State Bulldog family! His parents, Jude Dunbar and Heidi Krikorian, also attended Fresno State. “The FSAA is helping me meet my financial needs as a student,” he says. “I am very thankful for the support.” James is studying criminology and plans on a degree in law enforcement.

Support students and Fresno State!
Join the Fresno State Alumni Association today!
 

A Celebration of Wine!
Sunday, June 6; Coomb’s Riverbend Ranch. Taste fine wines from more than 100 wineries and 40 Valley restaurants. Details: [559] 244-5741.

AgOne— 25^th Year Silver Anniversary
Saturday, June 12; Satellite Student Union. Guided tours of the campus farm, reception and gourmet dinner are included in the festivities celebrating the 25^th year anniversary of AgOne. Tickets: [559] 278-4266.

19^th Annual Summer Arts Program
June 27 – July 24, Fresno State. The program features two-week workshops in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, creative writing, new media and arts education. Details: [559] 241-6090.

Kenny Chesney
Tuesday, June 15. Call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS for tickets.

Crusty Demons Global Assault Tour
Friday, June 25. For tickets, call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS.

Simon & Garfunkel
Friday, July 2. Call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS for tickets.

Shania Twain
Tuesday, June 22. Call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS for tickets.

Fleetwood Mac
Thursday, June 24. For tickets, call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS.

Incubus
Wednesday, August 11. For tickets, call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS.

Alan Jackson with Martina McBride
Thursday, August 12. Call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS for tickets.

Van Halen
Saturday, August 14. For tickets, call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS.

American Idol: Season 3
Friday, September 25. Call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS for tickets.

NBA Exhibition:
LA Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings.
Tuesday, October 19. For tickets, call [559] 347-3400 or [559] 485-TIXS.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW:
"The Arena That's Turning Heads"
A Souvenir Section originally published by "The Fresno Bee" on Friday, October 24, 2003.

PLEASE NOTE: All Dates/Times/Events subject to change.
Log on to SAVEMARTCENTER.COM for details.
 

fresnostatenews.com

Commencement 2004
President John D. Welty conferred 3,400 undergraduate and 700 graduate degrees at the 93^rd commencement ceremonies held at the Save Mart Center on May 22, 2004. An Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters was bestowed on Mary Carolyn Dobbs 1944, Adam M. Van Dusen 2004 was awarded the President’s Medalist, and Robert T. Gaeta 2004 was given the Graduate Medalist. FSAA staff [Jacqui Glasener and Lois May, pictured right] and volunteers also sold memberships and official alumni merchandise.

Obtain an MBAe from the Craig School of Business
at Fresno State
The Craig School of Business' new cohort for the MBA for Executives Program begins classes in July of 2004. The program includes the standard MBA curriculum, but is accelerated. Contact Professor Tom Burns at [559] 278-3077 for further information.

New Associate AD for Development: Gregory J. Walaitis
Gregory Walaitis has been named the new Associate Athletic Director for Development. He previously worked for Phoenix International Raceway and NASCAR Images.

Top 100 in Degrees
to Hispanics
California State University, Fresno was listed in the Top 100 by “Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education” in May, a national list of colleges and universities that confer the most Bachelor’s degrees upon Hispanics. Fresno State ranked #14 on the list.

Fresno Met Displays Works by Fresno State Students
The artwork of seven Fresno State students, including Leslie Batty [pictured, left] are on display at the Fresno Metropolitan Museum through June 27th. The display is a joint project of the the museum and the Department of Art and Design. Details: [559] 441-1444.

New ED for Maddy Institute:
Mark J. Keppler
Mark Keppler is the new Executive Director of the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute for Public Affairs at Fresno State. He was previously the MBA Director for the Craig School of Business at Fresno State.
 

Bid for the Bulldogs
Saturday, June 5; Save Mart Center at Fresno State. Enjoy dinner, beverages, silent and live auctions, and entertainment by comedian Gary Valentine. Hosted by John Wallace.Tickets: $75 and $25. 800 765-2510.

Equestrian Team Captures National Title
The Fresno State Western team captured Reserve National Champion status at the IHSA National Championships, checking in just behind champion team Texas A&M. Oklahoma State was third, followed by Ohio State in fourth.

FORE— Friends of Rene Errotabere
Golf Tournament
Friday, July 9; Fort Washington Country Club. Fresno State Wrestling boosters are invited to participate. Details: [559] 278-DOGS.

ITA National Rookie of the Year: Jelena Pandzic
Fresno State tennis team member Jelena Pandzic was named the National Rookie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association recently. The honor is the first national award ever received by a Fresno State women’s tennis player. Earlier this year, she was also named WAC Player of the Year.

New Women’s Soccer Coach: Steve Springthorpe
Steve Springthorpe has been named the new Women’s Soccer Coach by Fresno State Athletic Director Scott Johnson. Most recently, Springthorpe was at the University of Florida for five seasons.

Softball Wins 2004 WAC Title
The Fresno State Softball garnered a record-setting 23rd straight NCAA postseason appearance. Head coach Margie Wright collectd her 14th outright or shared league title, as well.

WAC Player of the Year: Christina Clark
Bulldog Softball shortstop Christina Clark becomes the first Bulldog to be a multi All-American at shortstop as the 2004 WAC Player of the Year. Clark leads the nation in home runs (23) while having been nationally ranked throughout the season in home runs per game (No. 6, 0.34, 23), slugging percentage (No. 8, .802), runs per game (No. 17, 0.93, 63) and batting average (No. 42, .396).

WAC Player of the Year: Richie Robnett
Bulldog Baseball outfielder has recently been named the 2004 WAC Player of the Year. Robnett hit .460 with 52 hits, 31 RBI, 14 doubles, nine home runs, 95 total bases and 31 runs scored in 29 conference games.

The Bulldog Report: KMPH 107.5 FM
Saturdays, from 11 AM to 12 Noon. An all-new talk radio program features all Fresno State sports. Hosted by Dana Greene and Lee Lockhart.

Log on to GOBULLDOGS.COM for tickets and additional information on Bulldog Athletics!
 

Adam LaZarre [1997], the Winemaker at Hahn Estates in Soledad, has won "Best Wine of the Competition" at the 2004 Los Angeles County Fair Wines of the World Competition for the 2002 Syrah, Central Coast. Nearly 4,000 wines were entered in the 65th annual competition, the largest wine competition of any county fair in the United States.

Adam M. Van Dusen [2004] was selected as the President’s Medalist for Fresno State’s Class of 2004. He also is the recipient of the prestigious George C. Marshall Award, presented by the Army ROTC for being ranked #1 out of 4,682 senior cadets nationwide. Adam graduated with a BA in Economics for the College of Social Sciences.

Douglas Davidian [1974] and California Business Furnishings have been presented the President's Circle Award by Haworth, Inc. Additionally, they received the Master's Club and Outstanding Sales Achievement Awards.

Jeffery Hansen [1986], the Founder of The Global Wine Group, has launched a new wine label called the Jewel Collection.

Jeremy Pearce [1998] is well-known for his realistic impersonations of Elvis Presley.

JoAnne Lucas has co-written the recently published "Valley Fever, Where Murder is Contagious.”

Lynette Horton [1994] is the Marketing Director for the Fresno Heart Hospital.

Mary Carolyn Dobbs [1944] received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from The California State University at Fresno State's 93rd Commencement Ceremonies on May 22, 2004.

Mary Kay Buckley [1983] and her business partner, Kim Ball, have opened Polka Dots, a specialty store, in Fresno.

Matthew Sconce, a Fresno State student, and his wife, Heather, won the “American Idol” nationwide video contest sponsored by the Ford Motor Co. They won $22,000 worth of prizes including a 2005 Ford Focus ST.

Peter Pardini [1992] is the General Manager of the newly opened Hooters Restaurant in Fresno.

Robert T. Gaeta [2004] was selected as the Graduate Medalist for Fresno State’s Class of 2004. He is one of 20 EPA Graduate Research Fellowship recipients in the country. Robert graduated with an MS in Biology within the College of Science and Mathematics.

Sam F. Iacobellis [1952] was awarded the International Von Karman Wings Award from the Aerospace Historical Society. A native of Fresno, the former rocket scientist at Rockwell International developed the B-1 Bomber. A Life Member in the FSAA, he also received Fresno State's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1982, as well as the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the College of Engineering and Computer Science in 1995.

Suzanne [Eckberg] Byrnes [1983] is a Partner with Facility Designs, an authorized Herman Miller Dealer, in Fresno.

Terry Lewis, an FSAA member, is appearing as Sky Masterson in “Guys and Dolls” at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater in Fresno through July 18.

Thomas A. Crow has been named the Chancellor of the State Center Community College District, which operates Fresno City and Reedley Colleges, as well as several educational centers. Dr. Crow holds bachelors and masters degrees from Fresno State.

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