Kids Celebrate 51 Years of Poetry

The Collegian Multimedia Sports Women’s hoops takes WAC Cooking 101: St. Patrick’s Tournament, ready to Online Day edition, dance for second straight year, Page 8 Fresno State | Serving the campus since 1922 March 16, 2009 | Monday collegian.csufresno.edu Kids celebrate 51 years of poetry By Erin O’Brien Best friends Erika Vilhauer and The Collegian Emily Bevins, both 9 years old and from Steinbeck Elementary, returned for the The 51st annual Peach Blossom Festival third year in a row to participate as a 2009 kicked off Thursday, attracting 6,000 team and said that they picked their poem participants from 200 Central Valley months ago. schools onto the Fresno State campus. “We went through our favorite book and The two-day event was started more found the best poem that we liked best,” than 50 years ago by a joint effort from Vilhauer said. “It’s about teddy bears and the Speech Communication and Theatre it’s both our favorites.” Arts Departments. Their goal was to Vilhauer’s mother, Janet Vilhauer, give young students the experience of 40, said that she sees the benefits of her performing a poem or reciting a story in daughter’s participation. front of a crowd and to introduce them to “It’s definitely something I encourage,” the Fresno State campus. Vilhauer said. The event is now put on solely by the “This is something she wants to do on Communication department and all 16 her own and it teaches them to talk in students running the show are hand front of people and gives them a lot con- picked by the event director. These stu- fidence.” dents are selected based on their attitude, Fresno State athletes were also at the responsibility, dedication and personality. event to give out autographs and meet the They have to enroll in a Communication participants. Joe Bernardi, sophomore class and have all the responsibilities an and Fresno State football center, was in event coordinator would have, such as charge of recruiting athletes to the event recruiting schools, t-shirt design, regis- and said that it’s a good experience for all tration and communication with partici- involved. pants. “It’s a great opportunity for the kids to Children from kindergarten to sixth meet the athletes,” Bernardi said. “These grade from public, private and home guys are coming out in their free time, schools all over the Central Valley were between classes and the kids love meeting eligible to participate. them and they love meeting the kids.” The event was directed by Fresno Sate Moore said that most kids are in awe of graduate, Stacie Moore, who said that the the athletes and their presence sends a experience the kids get is priceless. positive message to the participants. “These kids come so prepared,” Moore “The kids see these athletes and they said. “From kindergarten to sixth grade, look at them like heroes,” Moore said. they learn to be sure of themselves. “We want the kids to come to campus and They’re not going to get many opportuni- see the athletes and think to themselves, ties to do something like this very often.” ‘I want to go to Fresno State and grow up Children pick their own poem or short to be just like these guys.’” story, memorize the piece and then recite Each participant is given a button with it to a panel of judges — some of whom the event name and date, a certificate for were even participants from the 1960s participation and a sticker. T-shirts were and ’70s — using hand gestures and facial also available for purchase for $10. expressions. They are not allowed to use “The past participants were so excited props. to see how the event has grown,” Moore Jerry Marquez, 19, a communication said. major, volunteered and said that the kids’ “And it’s an event that rewards students preparations start long before the event. with a great experience, introduces them “They work really hard,” Marquez said. to the arts and a positive experience with “They’re practicing in school sometimes the campus. It’s just a great experience months before the event takes place. The all around.” amazing thing is that they have it all VIDEO: For more about the Peach Blossom Sarah Gilbert / The Collegian memorized and aren’t reading from any- Festival, visit The Collegian Online. More than 6,000 participants from 200 Central Valley schools participated in last week’s thing.” C http://collegian.csufresno.edu 51st annual Peach Blossom Festival. Competition gives students a shot at $25,000 By Alex Zimmerman The other three to four slots plan submissions are due. long way and has been very Fisher Jurvetson conference The Collegian on the team are open to the “The judges go through all successful. for $250,000. public. the business plans and select There have been a lot of The winner of the Draper $25,000, an office in the Lyles According to the Associate those that look like they might changes since the first year of Fisher Jurvetson competition Center Hatchery and an addi- Director for the Lyles Center, be viable. Then we’ll select the competition. will receive $250,000 invest- tional chance to win $250,000, Genelle Taylor, a person that’s those to do a presentation at This year’s first prize win- ment toward their business. are all prizes for the winner not a student may have a great a semifinal round, from there, ner gets $25,000 to help start Fresno State reserves one of of this years Lyles Center business idea and they can five or six teams are picked to his or her business, as opposed sixteen university spots. Business Plan competition. find a student to bring on to go to the final round,” Taylor to previous years where the “In 2008, students did really The Business Plan competi- their team and make them eli- said. first prize was $10,000. well and impressed judges. It tion is open to all interested gible. The semifinal round is the Mentorship students have was exciting to see them do Fresno State students. “They can do that, it’s not first chance for teams to pres- been networking with their well among so many other con- The deadline to apply for encouraged, but technically ent to judges. Five or six teams own personal mentors, to raise testants,” Taylor said. the competition was, Friday they can do that. That’s the will be selected for the final an additional $15,000 for the The $25,000 prize winning March 13. only barrier of the competi- round. competition. team from Fresno State will be The Business Plan competition, that you have to be an Venture capitalists will be “It’s the mentorship students decided on May 2 at the Peters tion is a chance for students enrolled college student,” coming from the Bay Area to that are going out and really Education Center Auditorium and entrepreneurs to start Taylor said. judge the final round. beating the pavement asking on the first floor of the Student their business. There are three selection Unlike the semifinal, the final for money, which is hard to do Recreation Center. Each team consists of four processes for contestants. To round is open to the public and in this economy right now,” contestants. At least one of enter the competition, a per- held in the Peters Educational Taylor stated. those contestants has to be a son must submit an executive Center Auditorium on May 2. Like last year, the first place student at Fresno State or a summary. Taylor says that since the prize will also include an office COMMENT: The Collegian is a neighboring community col- After submitting the execu- competition first year of the in the Lyles Center Hatchery, forum for student expression. lege. tive summary, the business competition, it has come a and an entry to the Draper C http://collegian.csufresno.edu )UHVQR6WDWH¶V&OXE&RQFLHQFLD &RPLGD<3UHVHQWV &RQFLHQFLD /HFWXUH6HULHV Page 2 • The Collegian • Monday, March 16, 2009 16, March Monday, • Collegian The • 2 Page (Everyone is welcome to this free Fresno State monthly event) 7XHVGD\ 0DUFK SP(G%± This month’s topic of Discussion: 3DVWRUVIRU3HDFH&XED± )DFLOLWDWHGE\-RKQ:DOOHU &XED&DUDYDQ&RRUGLQDWRU Pastors for Peace is a major project of the Interreligious Founda- tion for Community Organization which has its spiritual and political roots in the civil rights movement of the 1950/60s and the strategic use of non-violent civil disobedience to challenge unjust and immoral laws and policies. The Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba began in 1992 and annually takes people and humanitarian aid to Cuba from the US as an act of civil disobedience, challeng- ing the US government's economic blockade and the virtual ban on travel by US citizens to Cuba. Also shown will be Bloqueo - Filmed during the 2001 Cuba caravan, this 45 minute ﬁlm has Caravanistas and Cubans explaining how the US blockade works, and its impact on Cubans and the achievements of their society. A good educational ﬁlm for people new to the issue. For more information please call: (559) 307-9682 CLAS Department The Collegian That’s What the People Are Saying On Fresno Metropolitan Museum's financial troubles s it the city's role/responsibility to step up at a “I time like this? I don't know. I'd rather see it done through donations and community support, but I'm doubting a silent-auction gala is going to do it. Without the city, is there another way?” OpinionOpinionPage 3 Opinion Editor, Daniela Lopez • [email protected] • Monday, March 16, 2009 —Famous Whitewater, fresnofamous.com ONE -FINGER Economy falls, slackers rise Culled each week from discussions in The Collegian black or white, all or nothing.

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