More than 6,000 students throughout the Central Valley made their way to Fresno State to deliver poems and short stories at the 52nd annual Peach Blossom Festival last week.
Thousands of students from kindergarten to sixth grade recited poetry and short stories at the 52nd annual Peach Blossom Festival last Thursday and Friday at Fresno State.
More than 6,000 students from 132 schools in the Central Valley attended the festival to deliver their poems and short stories in various classrooms on campus.
“I love that we can put this on for them,” said Jerry Marquez, the public relations coordinator for the festival. “We make them feel like they can achieve something.”
Marquez said the festival is always a positive experience for the students. He said they enjoy visiting the college campus and meeting athletes from Fresno State.
Kenny Wiggins, the athletic coordinator for the festival, recruited Fresno State athletes to attend the event and sign autographs for the students.
Wiggins is on the football team, and has attended the event to sign autographs for the past four years. He said this was his first year being on the committee.
Wiggins said he decided to help with the event because it was a positive experience for the students.
“I just like helping out whenever I can,” Wiggins said. “I love interacting with kids.”
Patrick Su’a, a football player at Fresno State, was at the Peach Blossom Festival to sign autographs for the young poets as well.
He said the festival is a great way for the students to meet positive role models.
“I think it’s amazing how all the kids come out to participate in the Peach Blossom Festival,” Su’a said. “I wanted to come out and support them.”
Su’a said he plans to sign autographs again during the festival next year.
Austin Wentworth, another football player at Fresno State, has signed autographs for the festival participants for the past two years.
“I think it’s good for the kids to come out and see athletes and students helping,” Wentworth said. “It’s cool to see the kids come up and be excited to talk to you.”
Many parents and teachers also attended the festival to support their students.
Renee Laquerriere, a second grade teacher at Malloch Elementary School in Fresno, said she brought 35 students from first through sixth grade to the festival.
Laquerriere said she has been bringing students for the last four years. She said the festival always runs smoothly, and is a positive experience for the students.
“It’s a good system,” she said. “Everything was great.”
She said the students will perform their poems and short stories again for their peers when they return to school.
“It helps them not be afraid of getting up in front of people and speaking,” Laquerriere said.
Jamie Scharton, a mother to one of the students, went to the festival to support her daughter, Hailey Scharton. Hailey is in the fourth grade, and performed at the festival for the third year in a row. This year she performed “My Book Report is Due Today” by Kenn Nesbitt.
“I think it’s exciting,” Scharton said. “The kids love going, and being up in front of people.”
She said the students enjoy their time at the event.
“It’s always a very positive experience here,” she said. “They’re always excited to come on Fresno State campus.
Grace Miller, a fourth grade student at Sanger Academy Charter School, performed at the Peach Blossom Festival for the first time. She and her partner, Haylee Bulaich, recited “Welcome to Earth.”
Grace said she had a wonderful time at the festival.
“I really like it,” Grace said. “It’s fun that you’re able to express your feelings, and have a great time doing what you love to do””reciting poems.”
She said the judges were kind, and only had positive feedback.
“The judges were nice,” she said. “They never gave me any down side. They gave me the good side of things.”
Alyssa Flores, a fifth grade student at Sanger Academy Charter School, performed at the festival for the second time. She recited “Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too” by Shel Silverstein with her partner, Caitlyn Trejo.
“I think it’s fun, because you get to recite poems,” she said. “It’s pretty fun to see how you do.”
Nam Dang was a judge at the festival, and a previous participant when he was a student in elementary school. He said it was an interesting experience to come back on the other side of things.
“To be on the other end of the spectrum””it was different and fun,” Dang said.
Ashley Muniz, another judge, said the students’ performances were impressive.
“I thought they were amazing,” Muniz said. “They were very creative.”
Jason Savage judged two of the sessions. He said he was impressed with the parents and teachers.
“They’re really supportive and nurturing,” he said.
Phil Johnson judged four sessions, and said he really enjoyed watching the students perform. He said judging was a great experience.
