Fresno State hosts inaugural Hmong Heritage Education Day

As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Hmong immigration to the United States, Fresno State will host its inaugural Hmong Heritage Education Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.

This free, public event, to be held in lots P30 and P31 near the Resnick Student Union, will bring together campus and community members to celebrate Hmong culture, history and educational empowerment.

Dr. Bao Johri, vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer at Fresno State, emphasized the significance of the day.

“The Hmong Heritage Education Day is about educating and bringing communities together to celebrate the Hmong people’s history, heritage, values, achievements and contributions,” said Johri, who serves on the event planning committee. “It is an opportunity for students to take pride in their culture, reflect on the sacrifices of past generations and embrace the responsibility of preserving their heritage. Be proud of your past, focus on your present, and build a future that upholds the rich traditions and enduring spirit of the Hmong people.”

The event’s roots trace back to smaller, student-led celebrations organized annually by the Hmong Student Association to coincide with the traditional Hmong New Year celebration every December. What began as modest tabling and cultural performances near the Speaker’s Platform on campus has now blossomed into a comprehensive campus-wide event. 

For Daisy Thao, Hmong Student Association president, the Hmong Heritage Education Day is deeply personal.

“It gives our Hmong students a platform to be proud of who they are and helps uplift our wider campus community. It shows that we are present and doing the work on campus,” Thao said. “It was incredibly meaningful to see the university president so involved with Hmong students, wanting to uplift our community on campus. Over the years, it’s been heartwarming to see how supported we are by faculty and staff who genuinely want our Southeast Asian students to succeed in higher education.”

The day’s programming includes cultural performances by dance groups, campus tours, the Hmong Legacy Exhibit and financial aid and college preparation sessions.

Participants can register for a number of workshops led by presenters such as author and Fresno State alumnus Soul Vang, who will guide creative writing sessions, and Dr. Yang Sao Xiong, assistant professor of anthropology, who will offer insight into Hmong cultural and religious practices.

There will be a campus and community resource fair, vendors selling goods and food for purchase from Asian food trucks. Attendees will be entered to win raffle prizes throughout the day. 

Thao hopes the event will do more than celebrate — she wants it to build connections and generate support.

“I hope students realize they’re not alone on campus,” she said. “We want to show that there are many resources, faculty, staff and students available to support them. We know higher education can be challenging, especially for first- and second-generation students, so this event is about commemorating community and connection.”

For more information and to register for a workshop, visit the Hmong Heritage day website.

(Story by Katie Xiong, student assistant in University Marketing and Communications)