With a $50,000 gift, the Vida Federal Credit Union has funded an endowed scholarship for local undergraduate and graduate students studying at the UCR School of Business and the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management. This contribution marks an important investment in the future of the region, as it directly addresses financial barriers faced by many students and reinforces the school’s mission of expanding access to high-quality business education.
“One of the biggest challenges for local students is the ability to afford college,” says Arnold Ramirez ’20 MBA, Vida’s vice president of lending and compliance and one of several UCR alumni who work at Vida (formerly Ontario Montclair School Employees Federal Credit Union). “We have seen firsthand UCR’s impact on the lives and careers of the students from our region.
“We feel this scholarship is a valuable way to have long-term impact on the local community by providing support for students to advance in their educations, careers, and civic duties.”
Ramirez emphasizes that the scholarship represents more than a financial award. It is a commitment to supporting the educational pipeline in Inland Southern California and ensuring that talented students are able to pursue degrees without being constrained by financial pressures. The investment allows students to focus more fully on their studies, gain meaningful career experiences, and ultimately return to the community as leaders who are prepared to give back.
The scholarship is also an extension of the credit union’s long-standing values. Ramirez says the scholarship aligns with the credit union’s mission to encourage thrift, savings, and wise use of credit. Vida serves residents who live, work, worship, or attend school in San Bernardino County and caters to the specific needs of these members. By providing resources that ease financial strain, Vida continues its tradition of creating opportunities for growth and financial security among community members.
Scholarship recipients are selected by a faculty committee at the School of Business. Students who apply must either work or live in the San Bernardino County area, demonstrate financial need, and maintain good academic standing. These criteria ensure that the scholarship is awarded to individuals who are not only dedicated to their studies but who are also connected to the region Vida serves. The selection process highlights the shared mission between the university and the credit union: investing in local talent and ensuring that students can complete their degrees.
“Vida is always working to lower costs for our members within this community,” adds Ramirez, underscoring the parallel goal of the scholarship. “This scholarship helps lower the costs for UCR business students from our community.”
The establishment of this endowed scholarship reflects a meaningful partnership between the School of Business and a trusted community institution. It symbolizes how collaboration between higher education and local organizations can have a direct, measurable effect on students’ lives. For UCR, it represents an opportunity to further support students who show promise in academics and leadership but face economic obstacles. For Vida, it reinforces the organization’s identity as not only a financial institution but also a community partner dedicated to educational success.
As the first recipients of the Vida Federal Credit Union Endowed Scholarship are named in the coming years, their accomplishments will serve as a testament to the power of community investment. The scholarship is designed to last in perpetuity, ensuring that generation after generation of UCR business students will benefit from Vida’s generosity. In this way, the $50,000 gift represents more than a one-time contribution—it is a lasting legacy that connects the credit union, its alumni, and the broader Inland Southern California community to the university’s future.
