As part of its community partnership in ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Editionâ€Â Fresno project, California State University, Fresno is offering to pay the fees for all members of the Riojas family
to earn their college degrees.
Grants to Mary Ann Riojas and her four teen-aged children are intended to help them complete their higher education at Fresno State. The grants are provided through privately donated funds and are contingent on the students̢۪ meeting university admissions and retention criteria.
The grants will provide an opportunity for Mary Ann Riojas to complete her higher education and for her children – Nicole, 18; Victoria, 17; Angel, 15; and Jessie, 14 – also to attend Fresno State.
University President Dr. John D. Welty said, “We were inspired by the Riojas family’s example of perseverance and commitment to others and we wanted to help them.â€Â
“This is a great way for us to demonstrate our dedication to the importance of both education and community service,â€Â Welty added. “We are confident our ‘investment’ in the Riojas family at Fresno State will benefit our entire community for many years to come.â€Â
In announcing the grants at a post-build press conference on Friday, Jan. 16, Dr. Paul Oliaro, vice president for Student Affairs, said, “At Fresno State, education doesn’t end in our classrooms. We recognize our regional challenges are great, so we are committed to meeting them through community
service.
“Our students, faculty and staff understand that service is one way of developing a lifelong habit of paying it forward,â€Â Oliaro added.
Fresno State Associated Students Inc. President Graham Wahlberg, a construction management student who was among the dozens of students who volunteered to build the Riojas house, presented certificates to the family to mark the grants.
Fresno State volunteers – most of them students working during their winter break from classes – exemplified the university’s community-service commitment, Oliaro said.
Construction Management Program students from the Lyles College of Engineering got hands-on experience as the house took shape in just 106 hours. Sorority members from Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Gamma and members of Sigma Chi fraternity were part of the volunteer force, as were a team representing Associated Students Inc. and a group from the Lyles College̢۪s other engineering disciplines.
Campus community individuals, some referred by the university̢۪s Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, also joined the volunteer force. The Richter Center is the campus clearinghouse for community volunteer opportunities.
Welty has set a community-service goal of 1 million Fresno State volunteer hours annually by 2011, the university̢۪s centennial. During 2007-08, campus faculty, staff and students contributed 667,836 hours of volunteer service valued at about $15.9 million.
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which has won back-to-back Emmy awards as Best Reality Program (noncompetitive), is in its sixth season on ABC and also is aired in nearly 70 countries outside the United States. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Anthony Dominici is the executive producer and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.
George Costanza • Jan 25, 2009 at 2:51 pm
scout,
doesn’t matter. Let Fresno Pacific provide the education—–A place in these state university classes cant just be handed away as a part of a donation to a needy family. Students go through years of agony to know they have earned a seat in a college classroom. We can’t just reserve a slot here or a slot there because we must promote the school as part of a reality program. Not right. This is compromising the university to the fullest.
George Costanza • Jan 25, 2009 at 9:51 pm
scout,
doesn’t matter. Let Fresno Pacific provide the education—–A place in these state university classes cant just be handed away as a part of a donation to a needy family. Students go through years of agony to know they have earned a seat in a college classroom. We can’t just reserve a slot here or a slot there because we must promote the school as part of a reality program. Not right. This is compromising the university to the fullest.
red herron • Jan 21, 2009 at 7:52 pm
questionable move by the university admin. What about those impacted by budget issues? They’ve gotta step to the side to help out a family hit by hard times. Many are facing difficult times at the present.
red herron • Jan 22, 2009 at 2:52 am
questionable move by the university admin. What about those impacted by budget issues? They’ve gotta step to the side to help out a family hit by hard times. Many are facing difficult times at the present.
Scout • Jan 21, 2009 at 3:12 pm
“The grants are provided through privately donated funds and are contingent on the students’ meeting university admissions and retention criteria.”
It’s right there in the story people. Privately donated funds. To continue getting the scholorships they must meet certain requirements.
Extreme Makeover is an hour long show, not half hour.
The school is trying to get their name out there to increase their publicity, which can lead to increasing revenue.
Plus they were just doing a nice thing for the people. If you have ever watched the show, these people are usually very deserving.
Scout • Jan 21, 2009 at 10:12 pm
“The grants are provided through privately donated funds and are contingent on the students’ meeting university admissions and retention criteria.”
It’s right there in the story people. Privately donated funds. To continue getting the scholorships they must meet certain requirements.
Extreme Makeover is an hour long show, not half hour.
The school is trying to get their name out there to increase their publicity, which can lead to increasing revenue.
Plus they were just doing a nice thing for the people. If you have ever watched the show, these people are usually very deserving.
jsv • Jan 21, 2009 at 9:13 am
Its all the same, the university is doing exactly what all the other business did. They are promoting themselves. Its sad that it takes a tv show for all these businesses and people to give back. “Give back” in this context actually just means being on tv and getting a cheap promotion by the tv show. Sad but that is what is was.
jsv • Jan 21, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Its all the same, the university is doing exactly what all the other business did. They are promoting themselves. Its sad that it takes a tv show for all these businesses and people to give back. “Give back” in this context actually just means being on tv and getting a cheap promotion by the tv show. Sad but that is what is was.
Randy Sanchez • Jan 21, 2009 at 1:06 am
Scary how an education can be soiled by our administration to get the university name put on a damn half hour tv show. And the kids (could be great youngters) are just handed money and entrance into a state university that many have to fight to earn?
Randy Sanchez • Jan 21, 2009 at 8:06 am
Scary how an education can be soiled by our administration to get the university name put on a damn half hour tv show. And the kids (could be great youngters) are just handed money and entrance into a state university that many have to fight to earn?
Chevy Guerra • Jan 19, 2009 at 8:29 pm
bad call by Fresno State. Admission to a university is earned. I would hate to be the student of equal or better standing who gets turned down because Welty needs national press on ABC for some television show. This decision should be immediately reviewed.
Chevy Guerra • Jan 20, 2009 at 3:29 am
bad call by Fresno State. Admission to a university is earned. I would hate to be the student of equal or better standing who gets turned down because Welty needs national press on ABC for some television show. This decision should be immediately reviewed.
Obama bin Laden • Jan 19, 2009 at 8:23 pm
This kids deserve full-ride scholarships simply based on the fact that Fresno State needs publicity on a national television network. I fear this cheapens a university education when we have to deny qualified students. Sure, the family is a hard-luck case, but the home should be enough. WE ARE A PUBLIC, 4-YR. STATE UNIVERSITY, this decision should be investigated.
Obama bin Laden • Jan 20, 2009 at 3:23 am
This kids deserve full-ride scholarships simply based on the fact that Fresno State needs publicity on a national television network. I fear this cheapens a university education when we have to deny qualified students. Sure, the family is a hard-luck case, but the home should be enough. WE ARE A PUBLIC, 4-YR. STATE UNIVERSITY, this decision should be investigated.
dw • Jan 18, 2009 at 10:25 am
I’m more than a little perturbed by this. One of the counselors up in Advising Services told my partner and me Friday that it’s getting harder to get in here and that Fresno State will have 2500 fewer students next fall because of the state budget meltdown. Then the University magically comes up with this idea. Unless this is going to be paid for by some alumni (private money in other words), I have a huge problem with it!!
dw • Jan 18, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I’m more than a little perturbed by this. One of the counselors up in Advising Services told my partner and me Friday that it’s getting harder to get in here and that Fresno State will have 2500 fewer students next fall because of the state budget meltdown. Then the University magically comes up with this idea. Unless this is going to be paid for by some alumni (private money in other words), I have a huge problem with it!!
Kaitlyn Fiechtner • Jan 18, 2009 at 3:24 am
I’m with the person in the comment above.
Sure, the mom deserves a house to meet her needs, but she already has a bachelor’s degree, based on my research, so there is no need for her to have a full ride. Furthermore, sure, the kids’ mom has done amazing things with her life, but, with all the respect I can muster, what have her children done? Did they dedicate their lives to straight A’s, volunteer work, school activities, while maintaining a job, like the rest of us who have received full-rides? If they have, then, fantastic, they deserve it, if not, how do we know they’ll even finish? But, on a more optimistic note, maybe this will allow them the chance to better their lives. Let’s just hope they don’t take it for granted.
Kaitlyn Fiechtner • Jan 18, 2009 at 10:24 am
I’m with the person in the comment above.
Sure, the mom deserves a house to meet her needs, but she already has a bachelor’s degree, based on my research, so there is no need for her to have a full ride. Furthermore, sure, the kids’ mom has done amazing things with her life, but, with all the respect I can muster, what have her children done? Did they dedicate their lives to straight A’s, volunteer work, school activities, while maintaining a job, like the rest of us who have received full-rides? If they have, then, fantastic, they deserve it, if not, how do we know they’ll even finish? But, on a more optimistic note, maybe this will allow them the chance to better their lives. Let’s just hope they don’t take it for granted.
Excuse me...but? • Jan 18, 2009 at 8:07 am
Excuse me….but how did Fresno State just magically come up with this undeserved money for this family? Without even so much as knowing ANY qualifications, they hand over full ride scholarships? Why not give them to those who actually DESERVE it?
I sure hope the university is this generous when the cameras aren’t rolling…
Excuse me...but? • Jan 18, 2009 at 1:07 am
Excuse me….but how did Fresno State just magically come up with this undeserved money for this family? Without even so much as knowing ANY qualifications, they hand over full ride scholarships? Why not give them to those who actually DESERVE it?
I sure hope the university is this generous when the cameras aren’t rolling…
Beth Martinez • Jan 18, 2009 at 4:47 am
Wow what an amazing week for Fresno to witness the Extreme Makeover team. I was blessed to be a volunteer and meet some amazing people. Thank you to all who donated time, money, and products to this family. Thank you Fresno State for giving the gift of education to this family. This will be a week that in my lifetime I will cherish always.
Beth Martinez • Jan 17, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Wow what an amazing week for Fresno to witness the Extreme Makeover team. I was blessed to be a volunteer and meet some amazing people. Thank you to all who donated time, money, and products to this family. Thank you Fresno State for giving the gift of education to this family. This will be a week that in my lifetime I will cherish always.