Alumni

Scholarships

Nearly three decades ago, the Riverside Community College Foundation started on a path that each year opens the doors to great opportunities for more than 500 students.

At the heart of the Foundation's mission is a passionate belief that scholarships can make tremendous differences in students' lives. The RCC Foundation awards more than $300,000 in scholarships annually to deserving high school seniors, continuing RCC students and RCC students transferring to a four year college or university.

Generous support from people like you, local businesses and community groups, provides these scholarships. Without your help, college would not be possible for many of our students.

A scholarship is a very personal investment – a special agreement between donor and student. As a scholarship contributor, you decide the educational goals you want to support and the type of student you want to help. And students accept your scholarship as an affirmation that someone believes in their dream and their ability to achieve it.

Former scholarship recipient James Namekata achieved his dream. A graduate of Ramona High School in Riverside, he attended RCC for two years before transferring to the University of California, Riverside. Today James is a full–time mathematics instructor at RCC Moreno Valley.

Young people like James can be found throughout our community. And as our region grows, along with the cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies, the need for scholarships soars. With your continued support, the RCC Foundation can help to meet this most important need.

We invite you to become part of the RCC tradition by establishing a scholarship and helping us build a solid foundation for higher education in our communities.

Traditions of Giving

Establishing a scholarship at RCC is a simple, straightforward process. You can fund a scholarship at any time during the year.

General Scholarships

Many donors choose to establish a general scholarship. These scholarships can be funded with a one–time gift distributed over one or more years or with an annual gift of $500 or more. General scholarships are often geared toward students with specific educational goals or community affiliations.

Memorial Scholarships

Some donors choose to establish a scholarship to honor the memory of current or former students, faculty or a family member or loved one for whom RCC held a special meaning.

The Roy Hord Memorial Endowed Athletic Scholarship is a wonderful example why memorial funds are established. Roy was a long–time member of the RCC Tigerbackers and the RCC Foundation.

Endowed Scholarships

With a gift of $10,000 or more you can establish an endowed scholarship or permanant fund. This is an excellent way to make sure that your support will benefit students for decades to come. Each year, a portion of the fund's interest earnings is made available for scholarships. Endowed scholarships are very flexible and can be tailored to meet your needs.

The Community Scholars Initiative

The Community Scholars Program is a joint endeavor of the Community Foundation, Riverside Community College District Foundation, California Baptist University, La Sierra University, the University of Redlands and other generous philanthropists in our community who share a commitment to education.

The objective of the scholarship is to reward students who have shown excellence in scholastic achievement, community involvement and mastery of knowledge while in local high schools. The philosophy of the scholarship is to encourage outstanding high school seniors from Riverside County to pursue their collegiate studies at Riverside Community College for two years and to meet the requirements for transfer and acceptance to one of the participating four–year universities that the student selects at the time of application.

This scholarship is competitive. Ten students will be selected each year as Community Scholars recipients.

Other Types of Scholarship Support

Rather than establishing a new scholarship, you can direct your support to any of the more than 200 general scholarships that are managed by the RCC Foundation. A complete list of these scholarships is available from the RCC Foundation Office. Contributing in this way still allows you to direct your donation in support of a particular type of student or academic/career goal.

Building for the Future

Scholarships also can be established through a bequest, living trust, or other planned gift arrangement. For more information about these arrangements and potential estate planning and tax benefits, please contact the RCCD Foundation. Scholarships generally are available to students who are enrolled in a minimum of 12 units and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. RCC Foundation staff would be happy to meet with you to discuss specific scholarship criteria. For more information please contact the RCC Foundation Office at (951) 222–8626.

Heritage Circle

Heritage Circle is the way those who believe in a college education for all who qualify can help make that dream come true for generations to come. There are several ways you can be eligible for membership in the Heritage Circle. Through a bequest, you can name RCCD Foundation in your will or living trust. Your attorney can assist you in planning your bequest. Often, a bequest can be made simply with the addition of a codicil to your existing will.

Charitable Gift Annuity

Establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity allows you to receive from the Foundation a guaranteed, partly tax–free income for life in exchange for a gift of cash or other assets. A plan may also be devised through which a spouse, parent or other loved one can receive guaranteed payments, or a deferred payment can also be arranged as part of a retirement plan or for providing income for family members to attend college.

Endowed Scholarship

Endowing a scholarship in honor or memory of a loved one is an excellent way to provide support that will benefit students now and in the future. Our endowed scholarship program is very flexible and tailored to meet your needs.

Charitable Remainder or Charitable Lead Trust

The Charitable Remainder Trust will provide you with extra fixed or variable income for your lifetime. You can set the amount of income you will receive when you establish your trust, and assets within the trust can appreciate tax–free over your lifetime.

The Charitable Lead Trust allows you to set aside assets for charitable use for a limited period of time, after which the property is returned to you or your family. These options can offer significant tax benefits.

Property and Life Insurance Gifts

Your gift of property may allow you to make a larger gift at less cost to you. Gifts of appreciated property, real estate, or securities are gift options that can be of mutual benefit for you and the college. Gifting a life insurance policy to the RCCD Foundation is an excellent way to allow you to make use of an asset you no longer need for your family's security.

Other Planned and Deferred Gift Options are available to meet your needs while benefiting the College and students. Please call the RCCD Foundation Office at (951) 222–8627 for more information and assistance.