UCI Giving Day 2024

The UCI Retirees Association (UCIRA) advocates for all UCI retirees and provides social and educational activities. The UCIRA also contributes to campus life with staff and student scholarship efforts.

With support from you we:

• Develop lectures, organize local tours, wellness and cooking classes and information sessions as well as continue monthly group walks, hikes and bike rides.
• Contribute annually to the Staff Assembly Scholarship Program helping staff continue their education as well as the Legacy Scholarships for incoming students.
• Maintain UCI’s representation in the UC system-wide Council of UC Retirees Associations (CUCRA), advocating for health insurance and other critical retirement benefits.  

Once again our goal for Giving Day 2024 is to continue to raise money for our UCIRA Legacy Scholarships. Last year we were able to award 4 scholarships instead of 2. This coming year (2024-2025) we will be INCREASING the amount each recipient receives. Beginning Fall 2024 UCIRA will give $14,000 in new student scholarships to two new freshman and two new transfer students. Your support and generosity has made this possible.

These scholarships were developed for students related to a UCI retiree, UCI alumni, or current UCI staff member. Scholarship recipients will be chosen in accordance with approved university policies and procedures.

Please take a moment and watch the video from one of the scholarship recipients. It is heartwarming to hear how we’ve helped.

Tanya Gonzalez
2023-24 Transfer Student Recipient

Tanya Gonzalez is a transfer student majoring in Psychological Sciences. With a background that includes studies at Long Beach City College, Tanya’s passion for making a positive impact led her to volunteer at a boys’ home in Arequipa, Peru. Back at home, she continues to volunteer for a girls’ club, aiming to instill core values and virtues in young girls between the ages of 6 to thirteen. Tanya’s journey combines her academic pursuits with a strong dedication to uplifting others and understanding the complexities of the human person.

Daisy Gutierrez-Vazquez
2023-24 Freshman Student Recipient

Daisy Gutierrez-Vazquez is a first-generation freshman from Anaheim, CA, majoring in Education Sciences. Her sister is a UCI alumna. While at Magnolia High School, she volunteered as a Teacher’s Assistant at Dr. Jonas E. Salk Elementary School, where she reaffirmed her passion for being a leader and providing children with equal access to a quality education. Receiving support through the Legacy Scholarship will help her cover books and fees.

Phillipe Manio is a transfer student from Corona, CA, majoring in Computer Science. His aunt is a UCI alumna. While at Fullerton College, he interned as a coach at theCoderSchool Yorba Linda for his school’s STEM Honors program, teaching the youth how to code and program their own projects. He hopes to use this scholarship to pay for other college expenses to help him focus on his academics more.

Abby Noh is a freshman from Irvine, CA, majoring in Nursing. Her father is a UCI alumnus and her sister is a current UCI student. While in high school, she was President and Vice President of her school’s Red Cross club her last two years along with participating in an unpaid CNA internship where she worked as a student CNA before taking the state exam to get her CNA license. She plans to use the scholarship money for school fees, which will allow her to focus more on her studies.