Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval honored 2 individuals with the President’s Medal of Distinction during the 2024-25 world year. The honorees are Vinci Ricchiuti, seat of the Fresno State Foundation Board of Governors, and longtime module subordinate Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor.
Established successful 1993, the President’s Medal of Distinction is the highest non-degree grant presented by Fresno State. It is presented to citizens of the region, authorities oregon federation whose publication successful the country of nonrecreational achievements oregon nationalist work of nationalist oregon planetary significance, oregon correspond a publication of large value to the university.
The grant is awarded to those who springiness not lone of their clip oregon money, but are worthy of emulation done their leadership.
Ricchiuti, a large fig successful Fresno State fundraising, was honored during the September 2025 Foundation Board of Governors Dinner. Jiménez-Sandoval said this astir her astatine the dinner:
“Vinci, you person been a cornerstone of this university. Since your days arsenic a student, you person shown an enduring committedness to your alma mater. From serving connected Dr. Harold Haak’s Blue Ribbon Committee and starring the Fresno State Alumni Association to your existent relation arsenic seat of the Fresno State Foundation Board of Governors, you person fixed selflessly to enactment our mission. Your enactment connected truthful galore boards and committees exemplifies your dedication, and I cognize you proceed to give countless hours each week to Fresno State.”
Ricchiuti graduated from Fresno State successful 1981. A person successful the Ricchiuti household farming business, She was recognized with the Arthur Safstrom Service grant successful 1992, and a Top Dog grant successful 2001. In 2021, she received the Leon S. Peters Award for outstanding enactment and philanthropy.
“Receiving the President’s Medal of Distinction from my alma mater is incredibly humbling,” Ricchiuti said. “Over the years, moving broadside by broadside with esteemed assemblage leaders and assemblage representatives has been highly rewarding. I proudly stock this designation with my chap Foundation Board of Governors; their expertise and steadfast committedness person been captious successful our ngo to beforehand pupil success. I person agelong considered supporting Fresno State a privilege and wholeheartedly look guardant to continuing my service.”
Kapoor was honored connected May 16, during the commencement ceremonial for the College of Arts and Humanities. Jiménez-Sandoval said this during the ceremony:
“Since 1967, Dr. Kapoor has been a foundational fig astatine Fresno State, serving the assemblage for 55 years arsenic a dedicated module subordinate and earning the favoritism of prof emeritus successful the Department of Social Work Education. Among his galore accomplishments, helium founded and served arsenic the inaugural manager of Fresno State’s Peace and Conflict Studies Program, an inaugural that brought his heavy committedness to bid into world practice.”
In 1990, Kapoor established 1 of Fresno State’s astir cherished landmarks — the Fresno State Peace Garden, which helium considers 1 of his astir important accomplishments.
In 2022, Kapoor received the Arthur Safstrom Service award, and, successful 2023, helium was named a Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers. His enactment has besides been honored by bid organizations crossed the country.
“My deepest and heartfelt acknowledgment to President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval for awarding maine this prestigious Medal of Distinction,” Kapoor said. “It means truthful overmuch to maine and my family. I see this designation besides to beryllium designation of my colleagues and students, whose steadfast enactment and encouragement implicit the past 55 years person inspired and empowered maine to beryllium what I americium today.”
Past recipients of the Presidential Medal of Distinction tin beryllium recovered connected fresnostate.edu.
