Record turnout for Fresno State Chicano/Latino commencement on 50th anniversary
You can say that no one parties harder than Fresno State Latino graduates.
On Saturday, about 1,130 graduates participated in the Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration, the largest group in the history of the ceremony.
This year marked the 50th anniversary of commencement, a tradition that not only celebrates and honors students’ perseverance and achievements but their culture and community.
The celebration grabbed social media attention as the largest commencement celebration where graduates take the arena floor and turn it into a giant dance party.
This year, graduates celebrated with a halftime light show. The ceremony also features folkloric dance groups, as well as graduates carrying flags from more than 30 countries.
About 90% of those who participated are first-generation college students, organizers said.
This year, the commencement recognized event founders Miguel Olguin, Tony J. Garduque, Frances Pena-Olgin, and the late Ernesto Martinez. The ceremony started in 1977 with 58 Chicano students. Mildred García, chancellor of the California State University system, was the keynote speaker.
In 2024, a social media video of the U.S. Marine Band playing “El Toro Mambo” at the Fresno State graduation went viral.
The commencement celebration at Save Mart Center has an average attendance of 13,000 people.
This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 7:19 AM with the headline "Record turnout for Fresno State Chicano/Latino commencement on 50th anniversary."
