There was a joyful gathering of Fresno State alumni, Administrators and Career and Transfer Coordinators at Porterville College on Thursday to welcome and enroll students in their Bulldog Bound Program that guarantees PC students a transfer enrollment in Fresno State.
Alejandro Bermudez, Career and Transfer Coordinator welcomed students, PC leadership, administrators and staff to the official launch of the Bulldog Bound Transfer program , before PC President Primavera Monarrez spoke about the partnership at the PC/Fresno State Partnership celebration. Bermudez said the guarantee transfer between PC and Fresno State creates a pathway for students to achieve their educational goals and their bachelor’s.
“At PC we are committed to helping students navigate their travel journey with confidence and through the Bulldog Bound program they have access to educational support, transfer planning resources, special events, and a guaranteed pathway to Fresno State when requirements are met,” Monarrez said.
Monarrez thanked the transfer team and their partners at Fresno State, and welcomed them, and V, the Bulldog, as well as PC’s Pirate Mascot.
“Today is a great day for the college, and this is exactly what we want for our students. More opportunities, clearer pathways, and the ability to dream and to dream bigger, about what comes next in the students chapter and their journey. At Porterville College we like to say, ‘We start small, and we go big.’ And today is a perfect example of that. Students may begin their college journey right here, close to home, but there’s no limit to where the journey ends or where the journey can take them. From Porterville College to Fresno State, to a B.A., a career graduate school, or more. You can start small, and you can go big. The message is personal to me, because I was a transfer student, and a community college graduate.
“I understand what it means to take the next step, and be a little scared, or not knowing. And the answer is yes. It’s limitless for U.S. students. That’s why Bulldog Bound is important to PC and students. It makes transfer real, and attainable and within reach. We will help get to where you need to be to take that next step.
“Thank you Fresno State partners, and thank you for believing in the students here, and investing in the partnership. We are proud to work alongside you to create opportunities that will change lives for students and their families, and this community. At Porterville College we start small, and go big.
“You may start as a Pirate, but there could be a future in becoming a bulldog. Welcome to Bulldog Bound, and have a wonderful event.”
Martina Granados, Associate V.P. for Strategic Enrollment Management at Fresno State spoke encouragingly about the milestone of the Bulldog Bound Program that guarantees students can transfer to Fresno State, receiving help and encouragement along the way, and demystifying the transfer process, encouraging students to take advantage of the program that would help them achieve their goals and dreams. She said the partnership between PC and Fresno State reflects a strong dedication to expanding access to higher education for students.
Jaziel Barajas signed up to transfer to Fresno State and will be studying Business Administration, and said she would be in management, and transferring at the end of semester.
“The whole process is pretty easy to do. All you have to do is build the application, and you’re done. And now you just wait for them to email you back. And I already have two scholarships last semester.”
George Vasquez also signed up to transfer to Fresno State with the Bulldog Bound program. He said, “They’ll help anyone from Porterville College, as easily as we signed up today, and everything. And then we’ll hear back and join. I’m also studying business administration. I’d like to say that college is a way to help people out. If they don’t know what they’re wanting to do, college is a good way to find out what they want to do and move on in life.”
Erin Wingfield, PC Dean of Student Success and Counseling, said, “We are so excited for the Fresno State Bulldog Bound transfer guarantee program, and partnering with our Fresno State colleagues. Today, we welcomed our students, our staff, faculty, and partners to hear a little bit about this program, and we’re actually here signing up our students. who are interested in participating and transferring over to Fresno State.
“So this is such an exciting moment for both Porterville College and Fresno State in this partnership. And I want to thank all of our transfer team, our transfer career and resource center team members who helped coordinate this event with our Fresno State partners. So thank you.
We appreciate you being here today.”
The Fresno State transfer team and PC Counselors and transfer team and all the administrators gathered together for an official photograph, before students lined up to sign up for the transfer program. There was a long line of interested students, and counselors figured between 50 to 100 Porterville College students would sign up to transfer today.
PC Counselor Ray Alvarado said seeing the Bulldog Bound program launched at PC was awesome, and a program like this can help students in many ways, and it lets them know Fresno State will always be there for them. “I am a Fresno State Alumni and I know our students will enjoy furthering their educations there.”
Karen Alvarez is majoring in Child Development at PC, and her plan for Fresno State is to get her bachelor’s in Science and finishing her schooling there, and going for her Master’s, ” I am really looking forward to Fresno State.”
Daisy Y. Huerta is majoring in Social Science at PC, and she said Bulldog Bound is a great program for students at PC who want to take their education to the next level.
Sebastian Ortiz is majoring in Nursing at PC, and he said the Bulldog Bound program is amazing for students at community colleges, so they can further their education. He said the staff from Fresno State were super informative, and gave them a lot of useful information for the future.
Cynthia Morales, who’s majoring in hospitality, and H.R. at PC said the staff from Fresno State were so informative, and they wanted to share with students at PC. “We have so much to be grateful for. This is a great way to stay on the move (in education).”