Fresno State has honored Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff) with a 2022 Top Dog Alumni Award. The Top Dog awards recognize a select group of accomplished Fresno State alumni who have made significant contributions to society, and whose accomplishments, affiliations and careers have honored Fresno State.

"Fresno State is honored to celebrate the impressive achievements and inspiring legacy of our Top Dog for the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Senator Jim Nielsen. Our Top Dog awards highlight our university's best and brightest alumni, and I am personally grateful for Senator Nielsen's impactful leadership of California and support for Fresno State over the years," said President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval. "Senator Nielsen embodies the defining traits of a Top Dog: a lifelong dedication to public service and a passionate drive to promote the greater good. He is a transparent and honest leader with a laudable moral compass. I am thrilled to congratulate Senator Nielsen on behalf of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and the entire Fresno State community."

Each year at Fresno State one alumnus or alumna is selected from each of the University's eight academic schools and colleges, plus the Department of Athletics, the Henry Madden Library, the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, and the Division of Research and Graduate Studies to receive a Top Dog Outstanding Alumni Award. The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes Fresno State alumni for exceptional accomplishments in their field(s).

Nielsen graduated from Fresno State in 1967 with a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Business.

"I have been blessed to have had a good and broadening education at Fresno State and an opportunity to compete in athletics," said Nielsen. "This Top Dog honor acknowledges the way I have been able, throughout my life, to give back to Fresno State."

Since 1953, this prestigious award has been presented to Fresno State's most accomplished alumni. Throughout the years, the university has celebrated the bright minds, ambitious spirits and bold actions that have made significant impacts in the Central Valley and across the nation and globe. From astronauts and politicians, award-winning actors and poets, NFL athletes and US Olympians, to entrepreneurs and innovators, Fresno State has helped support and grow incredible alumni.

For more details on the 2022 Top Dog Alumni Awards, visit topdog.fresnostate.edu.