Cal State University Chancellor Dr. Mildred Garcia delivered the keynote address at at the 50th anniversary of the Fresno State Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration May 16 after an introduction by University President Saúl Jiménez Sandoval (a CVHEC board member). Before a record 1,134 grads and a full-house at the Save Mart Center on campus, they commended the founders of the celebration who were honored that night. (Cary Edmondson/Fresno State)
CSU Chancellor García keynotes Fresno State’s
50th Chicano/Latino Commencement
‘… largest bilingual, bicultural affinity graduation celebration in the entire country’
(MAY 20, 2026) — Fresno State celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration May 16 before a record 1,134 grads and a full-house Save Mart Center that seats 16,000-plus in its bowl (see live stream below).
In a unique commencement appearance, California State University Chancellor Dr. Mildred Garcia delivered the keynote after an introduction by University President Saúl Jiménez Sandoval (a CVHEC board member).
The Dancing Chancellor! CSU Chancellor Mildred García dances with Dr. Victor Torres, CLCC director (from Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez Sandoval Instagram).
Chcancellor Garcia commended the founders of the celebration who were honored that night: Tony Garduque and Manuel Olgín who’s Master’s thesis created the Chicano Alumni Club of the Fresno State Alumni Association and served as the founding path for the Chicano Commencement Celebration in 1977, and Frances Peña-Olgín. A fourth, Ernesto Martínez, passed away in 2013.
“I’m delivering just one commencement keynote address this year and it’s this one,” the chancellor told the Class of 2026. “Because of who you are and what you represent and what this celebration represents.
“This is not just the largest cultural celebration at Fresno State, it is one of the largest — if not the largest bilingual, bicultural affinity graduation celebration in the entire country. But as you have heard, it started small. It started with an idea: the recognition of a need for a culturally and linguistically relevant celebration that connected las familias — the families — with la comunidad — the community. Tony Garduque, Manuel Olguin, Francis Pena Olguin and Professor Ernesto Martinez made this idea a reality.”
Participating in the founders platform party that night was CVHEC communications lead Tom Uribes who provided the event’s first media coverage in 1977 as a student journalist and every year thereafter that he served as PIO for Fresno State in his 30-year career with the university. Also honored in the platform party were alumni Diana Gomez, Dr. Lúz González (a former CLCC director) and Martina Granados, who was a Chicano Commencement student speaker in 1991 and is currently interim associate vice president of Enrollment Management.
CLCC Director Dr. Victor Torres said this was the largest CLCC class since the event began May 20, 1977, when the first 57 grads were honored.
See:
Chancellor García and President Jiménez Sandoval honoring two of the three Fresno State Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration founders in attendance for the event’s 50th anniversary May 16: Tony Garduque and Manuel Olgín. Their joint Master’s in Social Work thesis created the Chicano Alumni Club of the Fresno State Alumni Association and served as the founding path for the Chicano Commencement Celebration in 1977. (Cary Edmondson/Fresno State)
Frances Peña Olgín (standing) was one of the three founders honored that night with Manuel Olgín at right. A fourth, Ernesto Martínez, passed away in 2013. At left is alumna Diana Gomez and CVHEC Communications Lead Tom Uribes who led the event’s promotion as a student journalist in 1977. (Cary Edmondson/Fresno State)
President Jiménez Sandoval and Chancellor García with CLCC director, Dr. Victor Torres (at right) and Dr. Amy Allen (left), Fresno State’s commencement events coordinator. (Cary Edmondson/Fresno State)
Livestream of the entire Fresno State Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration held May 16 in the Save Mart Center on campus. Believed to be the largest of its kind in the nation, the celebration honored the student founders of the event that started with 57 students May 20, 1977 and has grown to 1,134 students this year in front of about 16,000 supporters.
