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Allen Van Tran '15

Grappling with financial limitations didn’t stop Allen Van Tran from finding a way to use his education to open doors for others. He is now the youngest alumnus from the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) to establish an endowment at UC Riverside.
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Barbara Kerr '68

Barbara’s story showcases MOBILITY. As a first-generation alumna and donor, her story illustrates the opportunity a student at UCR has to find opportunity not only while on campus, but for the rest of their lives.
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Brenda Martinez '10

From UCR athlete to Olympian and World Champion and now mentor, Brenda Martinez ’10 has made her 5-year-old self proud.
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James Merino MBA '98

Education and opportunity go hand in hand for James Merino, MBA ’98, a data engineer who has worked at some of the biggest firms in Silicon Valley. That’s why he created the Jaime J. Merino Endowed Business Scholarship for Master of Business Administration students at UC Riverside’s School of Business in 2016.
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Jesse Melgar, MPP '17

When you think about the largest crisis in 2020, what comes to mind? Jesse Melgar, MPP ’17 was at the forefront of communication for Governor Newsom when COVID was at its peak.
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John Costumbrado, M.D. '17

John Costumbrado, M.D. ’17 is living UCR School of Medicine's mission. As a graduate of the inaugural medical school class at UCR, he ensured he stayed in the area to make a difference. Now, in Emergency Medicine, he is living his calling by working in a diverse medical field and working with underrepresented and underserved...
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Ken Noller ’75, T.C. ’76, M.A. ’84

Two student teachers didn’t have enough money for gas to get to their teaching sites. Ken Noller did something about it with an endowed fund for new teachers who may fall into tough times.
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Nwaka Onwusa '08

UCR allowed Nwaka Onwusa, '08 to be empowered and follow her dreams of music and culture. From Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to the Hip Hop Museum, she has shown what dedication and drive has allowed her to achieve.
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Rafael Lopez '07

From playing nooners, to playing Coachella, then back to UCR again. Rafael Lopez '07, aka DJ Alf Alpha, finds his way back to UCR as a performer and opener for Beach Boys and TLC for Homecoming.
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Thy B. Bui '04

Often, a student sees an opportunity and thinks, “I can’t do this because I can’t afford it.” With her endowed scholarship, Thy B. Bui hopes to prevent that thought for students interested in the UCDC program by providing funding support that covers the gap between academic scholarship costs and the cost of living for generations...
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Vera Machado Martinez M.A. '71, Ph.D. '79

A first gen UCR grad and single mom pioneered an exceptional career of firsts and is helping young Latina women do the same.