A better experience for seniors

By Jonathan Hernandez
The Collegian

Seniors preparing to graduate this semester can expand their graduation experience by participating in the Senior Experience, a program which allows participating seniors to participate in events during the first week of school, and additional events throughout the semester.

To participate in events, seniors must turn in their graduation applications and receive their Senior Advantage Key Tag. Graduation applications can be picked up in the Joyal Administration building, Room 113.

There are already set dates for a free Lunch and raffle prizes at the Grad Fair, taking place in mid-March for all seniors. One includes an ice cream social, called ‘Sundaes on Monday’ in May. The President, the Provost and the Vice-President for Student Affairs will be serving ice cream at the event. The future events are leading to excitement among some academic counselors.

“Ice Cream Sundaes will be offered to all seniors starting the Monday before final,” Academic Counselor Kimra Aquinor Garcia said. “We would like to congratulate them for all their hard work before they leave and pursue their rewarding careers.”

The Senior Experience program is more that events, and also offers information to graduating Seniors.

Director of Transition Services Barbara Benedict recommends all seniors check out the website for all their questions on upcoming events, http://seniors.csufresno.edu. In addition to information regarding upcoming events, the Web site also features other links regarding information for seniors.

The Steps to Graduation is one link on the Web site, which offers a list of the steps needed to graduate.

The list is broken down depending on how many semesters a student has until their graduation date, and what they should have accoplished by this point.

Another link is entitled Last Minute Details, which has information regarding your Fresno State e-mail address after graduation and receiving transcripts of grades.

In addition to events taking place in the first week of school and before finals week, there will also be events throughout the semester. Many universities across the country have done similar ideas and activities for their seniors. Fresno State is not only planning activities, but is preparing to offer incentives to attend, including prizes.

“The raffle in March should be a great time for everyone,” Garcia says, “There will be many gifts such as iPods that we will be handing out.”

Senior history major Joseph Rodriguez is excited about the new Senior Experience.

“I think it is a very good idea, it definitely gives us seniors an extra incentive to fill out our applications early,” Rodriguez said. “Also, ice cream is always good before finals.” He plans to begin his application immediately after the first day of school.

Other students and faculty agree with Rodriguez, saying the idea can give students more of a motivation to get a jump on the biggest day of their college experience.

“This idea can prevent students from filing late applications,” communications major Nick Barnett replies.

“With the edition of raffle prizes, and free ice cream, count me in. I’m already thinking of what kind of ice cream they will have!”

“It is really cool how we have our own Web site to keep us informed on all activities throughout this semester,” says liberal arts major Tiffany Pringles. “Graduating from Fresno will be one of the biggest achievements in my life, and I am just eager to get the work done.”

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