The California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus (PDC) is proud to announce the distribution of more than $170,000 in scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year. 

This significant investment in student success reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and access to higher education for all. It also empowers students to pursue their goals while easing the financial challenges of earning a degree.

This year, PDC awarded scholarships to more than 50 deserving students across various disciplines. These scholarships recognize not only academic excellence, but also community involvement and dedication to personal growth.

In addition to financial assistance, scholarship recipients gain access to a range of resources designed to enhance their academic experience, including mentorship opportunities, peer tutoring and career development workshops.

A few scholarship recipients from PDC share their thoughts about what receiving a scholarship means to them:

“This scholarship has made a tremendous difference in my life by easing the financial burden of completing CSUSB’s nursing program at the Palm Desert Campus. As I prepare to take my nursing board examination and continue working as a student nurse at Eisenhower Medical Center, this support allows me to focus on my education, textbooks and examination fees while gaining valuable clinical experience. I am deeply grateful for this investment in my future and am committed to becoming the best nurse I can be and serving vulnerable patients in our community.” – Alexis Molina Agbayani, Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship recipient

“Receiving the Robert A. & Shirley Saccaro Endowed Scholarship is a great honor and blessing. As I enter my junior year in the bachelor of social work program at CSUSB’s Palm Desert Campus, this support will allow me to focus more fully on my academics and my new role as ASI vice president of the Palm Desert Campus. My goal is to earn a master’s degree in social work and serve those in need in my hometown of Coachella. I am deeply grateful for this investment in my education and future.” – Dante Rafael Ramirez Manjarrez, Robert A. & Shirley Saccaro Endowed Scholarship recipient

“The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation Endowment has provided tremendous relief as I pursue my nursing education. As a student who pays for school independently while also helping care for my grandmother, this scholarship will help cover essential nursing expenses, including textbooks and clinical equipment. I hope to work in public health nursing and empower communities to make informed decisions about their health. Each scholarship feels like someone believing in my dreams and my ability to achieve them. I am deeply grateful for this investment in my education and future.” – Rhiann Portia Bernardo, Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation Endowed Scholarship recipient

PDC is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment, and these scholarships are a testament to that commitment. With a focus on equity and opportunity, CSUSB aims to empower students from all backgrounds to realize their talent and thrive in their educational journeys.

For more information about supporting scholarship programs at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Michelle Newman, philanthropic support analyst, at Michelle.Newman@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78140.

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.