From Bulldog of the Year to Community Builder: The Journey of Our CEO, Yinglak (Pang) Jittakoat
From Bulldog of the Year to Community Builder: The Journey of Our CEO, Yinglak (Pang) Jittakoat
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.”
EFA’s impact is already clear. In just 1 session, 85.7% of youth participants shared that the program inspired them to dream about their futures, and over half expressed interest in exploring the featured careers further. Even more powerfully, 82.2% said they enjoyed hearing stories from diverse professionals, showing how authentic voices can capture attention and spark curiosity.
After participating in an Equity For All storytelling session, youth shared powerful reflections on their experience. One participant said, "My favorite part of Equity For All is that they tell stories and give us an idea about what we want in life." Another added, "Today, I learned that I can be anything I want to be and I can do it."
These voices show the real difference EFA is making—helping students discover their passions, imagine their futures, and build confidence in their own potential. Your support can continue to create these transformative experiences, inspiring the next generation to dream bigger and reach higher.
Our storyteller, David Thorpe, is showing students a demonstration activity related to aerospace engineering.
“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.
Donate today to give Central Valley youth access to storytelling workshops that inspire their future careers, Your support this month will help 100 more students attend storytelling workshops before the school year ends.
Learn more about Pang’s story before becoming a founder and CEO of EFA Equity For All:
Bulldog Breakdown: Chatting with Women's Tennis Pang Jittakoat
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Mountain West Tennis player of the week Pang Jittakoat joins sports reporter Alec Nolan in studio to talk about her team as they near conference play
https://abc30.com/post/bulldog-breakdown-fresno-state-bulldogs-womens-tennis-pang-jittakoat/12906060/
Agricultural Business Student Spotlight: Yinglak (Pang) Jittakoat
(April 26, 2023) Congratulations to graduating agricultural business senior Yinglak (Pang) Jittakoat who received her second straight Mountain West Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year award this week - another impressive accomplishment that balances out her equally notable off-court credentials.
Read a full article: https://jcast.fresnostate.edu/news/news-2022-23/2023-04-26-yinglak-jittakoat-agbs-tennis-student-spotlight.html
For four years, Yinglak (Pang) Jittakoat gave her best to Fresno State. Here are some of the most impactful contributions and awards she earned as part of the Fresno State women’s tennis team:
Pang earned the ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship. This award is presented to a DI women’s player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team’s performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. ((https://wearecollegetennis.com/awards/ita-sportsmanship-awards/). (https://gobulldogs.com/news/2025/6/10/womens-tennis-jittakoat-tabbed-ita-northwest-cissie-leary-sportsmanship-award)
Pang earned back-to-back Player of the Year honors. https://gobulldogs.com/news/2024/4/22/three-bulldogs-named-to-mountain-west-25th-season-womens-tennis-team
This award is given to a player who demonstrates the courage to overcome adversity. Pang earned the Spoc Paul Schechter Award during the year she fought through her lower back injury.
