After four years representing Fresno State with pride, Yinglak (Pang) Jittakoat, a former Bulldog of the Year and women’s tennis standout, has found her next chapter in life: giving back to the community that helped her grow.
Originally from Thailand, Pang came to Fresno as an international student-athlete and went on to graduate with a perfect 4.00 GPA, receiving the International Graduate Student Award in 2025. She completed her master’s degree with a dissertation titled “The Power of Storytelling: Designing Extracurricular Activities to Inspire Career Dreams in Elementary and Middle School Students in California’s Central Valley.” Her academic journey and research became the foundation of her lifelong mission to help young people see their potential and believe in their dreams.
Throughout her research, Pang interviewed local leaders in Central Valley communities and discovered that approximately 54.7% of youth are not adequately prepared for their careers or higher education. She also learned that many young people drop out of high school each year. These findings motivated Pang to create Equity For All (EFA) as a reliable resource that youth can turn to for guidance, support, and opportunities to prepare for their future. Through creative workshops that connect self-reflection with career exploration and a program that brings diverse professionals from different fields to share their strengths, hopes, and experiences with youth in our communities, EFA aims not only to expand opportunities but also to show how possibilities can turn into reality.
Pang’s own story is deeply tied to Fresno and the Central Valley. As an international student, scholar-athlete, and now community advocate, she understands the challenges of access, culture, and identity that many young people face. The Central Valley continues to wrestle with educational and opportunity gaps, and Pang sees storytelling as a bridge—one that connects students’ lived experiences to their aspirations.
What makes EFA different is its purpose-driven design. This is not just another extracurricular program; it’s a research-based, intentional, and impact-oriented movement rooted in Pang’s academic and entrepreneurial background. Her belief is simple yet powerful: every young person has unique potential waiting to be seen and nurtured.
“I want to be a resource for young people,” Pang says. “I have seen so many young people in our communities who are full of potential, yet I want to be that resource to help them realize that there are so many opportunities waiting for them—not just in Fresno, but across the nation and even around the world.”
“After receiving the Fresno State Bulldog of the Year award and earning back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Year honors, I realized that true success isn’t about what you achieve for yourself—it’s about what you can give back to the community, especially to youth, as they grow and carry unique potential,” Pang reflects.
This is only the beginning. Pang envisions EFA as a growing platform, one that continues to partner with schools, nonprofits, and local businesses to expand access and opportunity. By blending storytelling and real-world learning, she is building a movement that goes beyond inspiration—it’s creating pathways for students to dream bigger and see new possibilities for their future.
There are many ways to support EFA’s mission. Volunteering your time as a storyteller or contributing through donations can directly help the organization expand access and resources for youth in our communities. Every contribution strengthens the next generation’s opportunities in education and career development.