At The Paul Merage School of Business, we are committed to our students and providing opportunities for them to thrive as a leader in a digitally driven world. Earning a degree from the Merage School is an investment in their future, and as a school, we are grateful for the support and dedication from our community to ensure they receive a premier business education. Private contributions are the most direct way to further our mission, to attract top talent across the globe, and recruit leading scholars and faculty.
RIA Talent Advantage Student Scholarship
Schwab Advisor Services and the Charles Schwab Foundation created the RIA Talent Advantage® Student Scholarship to help remove financial barriers, advocate for diversity and open doors for future talent within the independent registered investment advisor (RIA) industry. This scholarship will award twelve $10,000 scholarships to students seeking a major or minor in financial planning, or to undergraduate students that can demonstrate their commitment to a career within the RIA industry. At least six of the 12 scholarships will be awarded to underrepresented and diverse recipients.
Giving Day Scholarship
Every year, UCI alumni, students, faculty, staff, emeriti, parents, and friends from around the world come together for a day of philanthropy and make a tremendous impact on our campus and community for UCI Giving Day. Through the support of Merage School donors, the Giving Day Scholarship was created in 2019. It is awarded at the undergraduate and graduate levels to students interested in pursuing an education and career in the digital technology sector. The Merage School is committed to increasing the size and diversity of the digital technology workforce and eliminating the “digital divide” present in our society and ensure that all communities realize the potential benefits generated by the digital technology industry.
The Bradford Fellowship
In 2020, Dr. Tonya Williams Bradford and Dr. Kevin Bradford founded the Black Management Association at the Merage School to help foster an environment where people can bring their whole selves, be respectful and find value in difference. Their mission is to build a community that facilitates and promotes networking and professional opportunities, develops strong relationships with Black students and local businesses and maintains strong relationships with Black alumni and current students. After guiding the launch of the BMA, the Bradfords endowed the Bradford Fellowship to alleviate the economic challenge of higher education for students passionate about the organization’s goals. This scholarship is awarded at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to students who have demonstrated engagement with BMA and/or UCI’s Black Thriving Initiative.
The Alan and Debra Kaye Scholarship
In 2018, Mr. and Mrs. Kaye created The Alan and Debra Kaye Scholarship at The Paul Merage School of Business. This scholarship supports students enrolled in the MBA programs who have an interest or past work experience in Human Resources. Mr. Kaye’s career was spent in the human resources field for multiple Fortune 500 companies, and he continues to invest in future generations that have a passion for the industry.
Dick and Lee Rodnick Endowed Fellowship
The Dick and Lee Rodnick Fellowship is awarded to an MBA student specializing in ethics or corporate strategy, with a focus on working professionals that are interested in returning to school to earn their master’s degree. Our highly ranked MBA programs provide an immersive and impactful experience that prepares students to lead the way in the digital world and develop new skill sets to lead with confidence.
Dr. Judy B. Rosener Endowed Fellowship
Dr. Judy B. Rosener was an acclaimed author and Professor Emerita at The Paul Merage School of Business. For over 30 years, she has taught and done research in the areas of men and women in the workforce, cultural diversity and business and government. To honor Dr. Rosener’s legacy at the Merage School, the Dr. Judy B. Rosener Endowed Fellowship is awarded to full-time MBA students who have overcome adversity and give back to the Merage School community.
LD Reyer Scholarship
In 2019, alumna Lisa Dawn (LD) Reyer ‘94 created an endowed scholarship fund at the Merage School. With a passion for giving back to underrepresented groups looking to further their education at the School, LD provides the opportunity of financial stability to students that are pursuing their educational dreams. The LD Reyer Scholarship is awarded to an MBA student based on criteria such as academic performance, work experience and leadership potential.
Luis Villalobos Fellowship
The Luis Villalobos Fellowship is awarded to support full-time MBA students and offset the costs associated with earning their degree at The Paul Merage School of Business. All MBA programs at the School provide students with a combination of experiential learning, expert faculty, powerful networks of students, alumni and business communities that create an atmosphere to enrich their careers upon graduation.
Martin and Esther Kennedy Endowed Fellowship
Merage School’s MBA programs provide academic excellence both inside and outside of the classroom to prepare students to excel in this digitally driven world. The Martin and Esther Kennedy Fellowship is awarded to MBA students that are studying commerce and trade. These focus areas are key to the mission of creating leaders and developing the skills needed to thrive in the ever-changing business community.
Merage School Staff Scholarship
In fulfilling the mission to increase access to higher education, The Paul Merage School of Business implemented a staff scholarship program in 2006 to provide a world-class business education to staff members. In 2019, the Merage School Staff Scholarship endowment was created by our 2010 Staff Scholar, Melissa Beck EMBA ’12 and current chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board. Because of her commitment to the School, she chose to fund this award which supports the idea that education and scholarship for our staff benefit us all.
Paul & Elisabeth Merage Student Fellowships
In 2005, the Paul & Elisabeth Merage Student Fellowship was created by Paul and Elisabeth Merage to support full-time MBA students. Students are selected for their academic achievements, professional experiences, as well as their leadership potential in the classroom and beyond. Students that accept this award are introduced to top business leaders in the community, Merage School leadership and have executive mentorships – creating unparalleled networking opportunities. As a top business leader and philanthropist in Orange County, Paul Merage has a deep commitment to the School and future generations of business leaders.
Peter H. Stevens, Jr. Memorial Student Prize
This award was made possible by the family of Peter H. Stevens. The Steven’s family chose to honor Peter’s commitment to education with the creation of the Peter H. Stevens, Jr. Memorial Student Prize. This scholarship is intended to support an MBA student of high merit who serves on a leadership board at The Paul Merage School of Business. A role on a leadership board impacts the student experience beyond the classroom. Associations and organizations on campus enhance the professional, educational, and personal experience for all students involved.
Peter S. Whitney Healthcare Management Award
This scholarship, created nearly 30 years ago, honors the life of Peter S. Whitney. This award is granted to MBA students who are healthcare professionals, or who are pursuing a degree in health care management. The Peter S. Whitney Healthcare Management Award helps ensure these students have accessStephen and Ellen Milner Endowed Fund
In 2022, Stephen and Ellen Milner created the Stephen and Ellen Milner Endowed Fund through UCI to provide fellowships, based on need, to students within the Merage School’s Masters of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program. This is their way of providing an opportunity for selected students to get a top-notch education with less of a burden and to alleviate the rising costs of graduate school. As first-generation college graduates, opening the doors for today’s students is a meaningful endeavor to Stephen and Ellen.
Accenture Foundation Management Minor Endowed Award
The Accenture Foundation Award provides financial stability for undergraduate students that are pursuing a minor degree in business administration, with a focus in management. Selecting a minor at the Merage School is the perfect way to round out students’ education at UCI. The Accenture Foundation directly supports a variety of goals, with a focus on quality education. This commitment continues to allow the School to provide a world-class business education to students across campus.
Boeing Scholarship
For over a decade, The Boeing Company has supported the Merage School through the gift of scholarship. The Boeing Scholarship is focused on removing financial barriers for students with demonstrated financial needs who are either a major in business administration or business information management and are considering working in the aerospace industry. Through purposeful investments, Boeing supports innovative partnerships, and helps build better communities worldwide. This includes improving access to globally competitive learning as well as workforce and skills development.
Denise Patrick Undergraduate Student Award
In 2019, alumni, staff and community members came together to celebrate and honor the incredible legacy of Denise Patrick. Through this generosity, The Denise Patrick Undergraduate Student Award was created. This scholarship was a funding priority for the Merage School during the 3rd Annual UCI Giving Day, and over 35 donors supported this newly created endowment. This award recognizes her dedication to first-generation students and helps these undergraduate students offset the costs associated with obtaining their degree at the Merage School.
Gerardo Okhuysen and Christopher Pounds Endowed Fund
Professor Gerardo Okhuysen and Christopher Pounds created the endowed scholarship, the Gerardo Okhuysen and Christopher Pounds Endowed Fund to support undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing global experiences at the Merage School. Programs at the undergraduate level provide students with essential leadership skills in a global context. Building leaders with a global vision is vital to providing opportunities for our student body to purse their goals and achieve those international experiences.
The Greg and Cindy Lai Undergraduate Award
In 2018, alumni Greg, MBA ‘88 and Cindy, ‘92 Lai created the endowed scholarship, The Greg and Cindy Lai Undergraduate Student Award at The Paul Merage School of Business. This scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student who is pursuing a degree in Business Administration. Both alums to UCI, Greg and Cindy have deep connections to the university and the Merage School. The Lai’s commitment in the School and future generations allows many students the opportunity to thrive in this ever-changing digital environment.
Hilltop Securities Student Award
As undergraduate students earn their degree in business administration at the Merage School, they begin to develop the skills to become globally competitive leaders in a diverse economy. The Hilltop Securities Student Award supports full-time undergraduate students. The leaders and employees at Hilltop Securities are committed to improving the lives of those in local communities. This involvement makes a real difference in the lives of our students.
The Keith and Michelle LEADership Student Award
The Keith and Michelle LEADership Student Award was endowed by alumni Keith, Economics ‘92, FEMBA ‘96 and Michelle, Social Ecology, ‘93. This undergraduate scholarship will be awarded annually to the president(s) of the Leadership Experience and Development for Success (LEADS) program at The Paul Merage School of Business. Founded in spring 2018, LEADS offers a select group of Merage School undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in professional development, mentoring workshops and networking events with Merage School alumni and community leaders.
Taco Bell Minority Fellowship
The Taco Bell Fellowship is awarded to MBA students earning their at the Merage School. The Taco Bell Foundation breaks down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders. Their vision to fuel students’ boldest ambitions to create good in our community provides our student body the opportunity to excel with our demanding and digitally driven curriculum.
Raymond Watson Endowed Fellowship
The Raymond Watson Fellowship is awarded to Merage School PhD students based on academic excellence and financial need. Raymond Watson, an architect, and real estate planner was key figure in the planning of the City of Irvine and the University of California, Irvine. This fellowship honors his legacy and the impact that he had throughout the entire campus.
Jone Pearce Endowed Fund
Established by Professor Gerardo Okhuysen and Christopher Pounds, the Pearce Fund supports PhD students, in honor of Professor Jone Pearce’s legacy at the Merage School. A Distinguished Professor Emerita of Organization and Management, Pearce conducts research on workplace interpersonal processes, and how these may be affected by political structures, economic conditions and organizational policies and procedures.
Wenqiang and Michelle Bian Sustainability Award Endowment
In 2020, Wayne, Ph.D. ‘98 and Michelle Bian created an endowed fund within The Paul Merage School of Business. This award supports a PhD student, whose area of study focuses on sustainability or for general PhD programing, including, but not limited to areas of sustainability in climate change, environmental decisions, sustainable supply chains, corporate social responsibility, accounting for recycled raw materials streams, or finance on special funds on sustainability. The highly individualized, full-time PhD program allows students to pursue their own areas of interest and prepares students for a career in teaching and scholarly research at the university level.The Bill Halford Family & Bixby Land Company Student Award
In 2018, the Center for Real Estate received a gift from the Bixby Land Company to create an endowed scholarship and honor the life of Bill Halford. A passionate supporter of higher education, and past chairman of the Center for Real Estate’s Advisory Board, he was a catalyst for the School’s renewed focus on its graduate-level real estate program. This award is a tribute to a visionary leader who believed in supporting the next generation of real estate professionals. This scholarship support is based upon the merit of graduate or undergraduate students who have demonstrated a strong interest in pursuing real estate studies and participating in the center’s activities.
Elm Weingarten Fellowship
The Elm Weingarten Fellowship is a two-year fellowship, awarded annually, to either undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing a career in real estate or with an MBA specialization in real estate. The Center for Real Estate at the Merage School makes positive contributions to its missions of education, academic research and meaningful industry outreach to the academic and professional business communities. Our faculty, students and affiliated professionals share a common interest in furthering understanding of the ways in which we can harness knowledge to create a sustainable future for the built environment.
Mercer Advisors Scholarship
In partnership with the Center for Investment and Wealth Management, The Mercer Advisors Scholarship provides support for undergraduate students at The Paul Merage School of Business. Two undergraduate students are selected based upon high merit, participate in diversity, inclusion, or leadership programs, such as Women in Leadership, MUSA or ASUCI. Students must also have completed CIWM's Personal FinANTs modules and/or participated in the undergraduate Stock Market Competition.
The Todd and Lisa Halbrook Endowed Scholarship
In 2019, alumni Todd, FEMBA ‘05 and Lisa, BA ‘08, FEMBA ‘14 Halbrook created an endowed fund for a scholarship in support of a first-generation undergraduate student committed to the study and practice of wealth management. Todd and Lisa are committed to uplifting these students and The Todd and Lisa Halbrook Endowed Scholarship is the first of its kind for the Center of Investment and Wealth Management (CIWM). It is the mission of the CIWM to facilitate discussion, study, and application of financial education for all.
Pamela M. Adams Endowed Scholarship Fund
In 2016, Pamela Adams endowed the Pamela M. Adams Endowed Scholarship for young students to attend The Pacific Life LIFEvest Financial Literacy program hosted by the Center of Investment and Wealth Management. Because of her commitment, a 9th or 10th-grade student from an economically disadvantaged community is able to attend, free of charge. This program is a weeklong, on-campus program dedicated to strengthening an understanding in financial matters, expose students to a college campus, encourage admission to a college or university, explore various career fields, teach social etiquette skills, and inspire confidence and success in all areas of life. One year later, Pam tragically passed away and the Merage School came together to honor her legacy and the impact she had on our community through further support for this scholarship.
Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award
In 2019, alumni, faculty and staff came together to celebrate the vision and tenure of Dean Eric Spangenberg. Through this generosity, The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award was created. This endowment supports the mission of the Center for Global Leadership (CGL), to build leaders with a sustainable global vision. Creating a more culturally aware student body through access to global travel is at the core of CGL. Providing this access for undergraduate students sparks a lifetime of learning, helping them develop their skills to function professionally in both national and international markets. Students applying for this scholarship should plan on attending an international student residential.
