Since 1998, we have been working to reverse the “brain drain” in the Central Valley.
About the Smittcamp Family Honors College
The Smittcamp Family Honors College, recognized as one of the top programs of its kind in the western United States, was established in 1998 with a generous $1 million gift from the late Earl and Muriel Smittcamp, founders of a prominent Central Valley agribusiness and longtime supporters of Fresno State. The Honors College, which admitted its first cohort of 50 President’s Honors Scholars in August 1999, is unique in the 23-campus California State University system.
Please take a moment to read the SFHC 2021-22 Annual Report for an overview of the SFHC’s accomplishments in community service, academic achievement, course curriculum, student support, and philanthropy during the 2021-22 academic year.
Who We Are
The Smittcamp Family Honors College is home to a small group of exceptional students. President’s Scholars are a highly motivated group of learners who are dedicated to achievement in the classroom and the community. We accept 50 incoming freshman each year, who are rewarded with the President's Honors Scholarship and receive honors recognition upon graduation.
A Unique Learning Experience
The Honors College offers a substantially different learning environment than most honors programs. President's Scholars are recognized as the university's leading learners. They study together in small honors courses for four years and receive personalized attention from faculty and administration. Our goal is to develop today's honors students into tomorrow's leaders.
Honors Curriculum
A hallmark of the Smittcamp Family Honors College is its innovative and challenging curriculum. Honors College courses fulfill the appropriate sections of the University's General Education requirements while providing our scholars with cutting edge curriculum.
In the Smittcamp Family Honors College, being at the front of the class means being at the front of the world of learning.
A Community of Learners
The Honors College welcomes a new 50-student cohort each year, enrolling approximately 200 students a year. This small group dynamic allows our scholars to learn from each other and form bonds that can last a lifetime.
Community Service
The Honors College values giving back to the community. Our scholars are provided with many different community service opportunities to serve different organizations and groups in Fresno.
Service hours rose dramatically in 2021-22 given the increased opportunity for volunteer activities after two years of limited access due to the pandemic. Smittcamp scholars worked with 11 unique community organizations and completed a total of 2,481 community service hours which equated to $88,233 in economic impact.
Study Abroad
With today's geopolitical realities, it is important that students learn about other cultures and the differences among societies. Through the university, our students are offered a large variety of study abroad opportunities that allow them to broaden their cultural knowledge.
Community Impact
The Smittcamp Family Honors College directly impacts social mobility and economic vitality in the Central Valley. Young scholars who might otherwise attend universities outside of the area are attracted to the Honors College.
Over 90 percent of our President’s Scholars come from Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Madera counties.
After graduation, over 60 percent of Honors College alumni live in the San Joaquin Valley (Stockton to Bakersfield), and 87 percent live in California.
Our alumni go on to become leading professionals in a variety of fields (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, engineering, teaching, business, etc.) and contribute positively to the betterment of the communities in which they live.
Past Annual Reports: SFHC 2020-21 Annual Report
