About 6,076 Fresno State students were eligible for degree conferral at Saturday's Commencement. Pending final certification of spring 2018 degrees, this is the highest number of degrees ever awarded at Fresno State in an academic year.

Fresno State’s 6,076-student class of 2018 consists of the following:

• 5,017 students who completed requirements for their baccalaureate degrees
• 1,059 who earned post-baccalaureate degrees (981 students earned master’s and education specialist degrees and 78 students earned doctoral degrees)

Summa cum laude (with highest praise) distinction for a GPA of 3.9 to 4.0 was earned by 195 students with 37 of those earning straight As.

At the University Commencement Saturday morning, Paul Price, professor of psychology in the College of Science and Mathematics, received the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from Dr. Lynnette Zelezny, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

H. Dan Smith led the procession as grand marshal as one of the University’s longest-tenured faculty members. Smith, who joined Fresno State’s faculty in 1978, is a professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation. He is retiring this year.

Brian Domingos Jr., the president of the Fresno State Alumni Association board, welcomed the class of 2018 graduates as official alumni after the degree conferral.

The commencement ceremony is organized by the University Commencement Planning Committee and is coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management under the guidance of staff in the Student Involvement Center.

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