Through their volunteer work with the Fresno State Alumni Association, staff members Ronald Dzerigian, Division of Research and Graduate Studies, and Jefferson Beavers, English Department, co-organized a successful five-year crowdfunding campaign, The Fresno 15 Creative Writing Marathon, to raise $25,000 for the university's newly endowed Larry Levis Memorial Scholarship, which benefits graduate students in the Master of Fine Arts program.

From 2019-23, the marathon raised $26,238 from 159 donors, exceeding the crowdfunding project's goal. Dzergian and Beavers brought together 15 Fresno writers -- including 13 Fresno State alumni -- who took turns publishing 15 new pieces in 15 days, staggered throughout the month, as members of the Creative Writing Alumni Chapter promoted their work and engaged with the community for donations big and small.

Joining Dzerigian and Beavers in the photo above is Caleigh Camara, the 2023 Larry Levis Scholar who just finished her MFA degree in May. Camara now works as an administrative analyst on campus for the Smittcamp Family Honors College.

Read more about the unique crowdfunding project on Fresno State News.