Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus is celebrating 11 exceptional students who have been named Rogers Scholars for the 2026-27 academic year.

The Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship Fund was created to provide financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus. 

The recipients, known as “Rogers Scholars,” are selected based on academic excellence, leadership qualities, commitment to personal growth and dedication to serving their fellow students and communities.

The 2026-27 Rogers Scholars are:

  • Alexis Agbayani – nursing
  • Adriana Banda - social work
  • Eric Chaidez - communication
  • Nicole Corona – nursing
  • Kirsten Gue - nursing
  • Bernabe Juarez – nursing
  • Karen Orozco - nursing
  • Valerie Perez – English
  • Crystal Romero - psychology
  • Nathen Velasco - nursing
  • Keith Winters - business administration

“Receiving the Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship has given me the encouragement and confidence to continue pursuing my academic and personal goals,” said communication student Eric Chaidez. “This generous support allows me to focus more fully on my studies, strengthen my leadership skills and prepare for a career where I can positively impact others. I am deeply grateful for this investment in my education and will honor it through hard work, academic excellence and service to my community.”

This year’s scholars will be honored at a special reception on Sept. 29, where they will have the opportunity to meet John Rogers and members of the Rogers family.

“These students exemplify the spirit of the Rogers Scholarship program – academic excellence, leadership and service to others,” said Adolfo Velazquez, director of community engagement and philanthropy at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus. “We are proud to recognize their achievements and support their continued success.”

Since its establishment, the Rogers Scholarship program has awarded more than $2 million to Palm Desert Campus students, empowering them to pursue higher education and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

About the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus: The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is dedicated to providing a transformative educational experience in the Coachella Valley. With a focus on  academic excellence and community engagement, the campus offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to meet the diverse needs of its students and the region.

For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the Office of Marketing and Communications at msinger@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107, or visit the PDC website at www.csusb.edu/pdc.