Four members of the UC Merced Foundation Board of Trustees have created a $100,000 endowed scholarship designed to remove financial barriers for Las Positas College students on the path to earning a UC Merced degree.
The Las Positas College to UC Merced Pathway Scholarship was unveiled at the June 10 board meeting held at Las Positas, where trustees Denise Watkins, Monya Lane, Lynn Seppala and John Loll marked the milestone with a ceremonial check presentation. All four are from the Tri-Valley and their deep roots in the region and connections to the Livermore college sparked their leadership in establishing the scholarship.
As a director and founding member of the Las Positas College Foundation Board, Seppala has long worked to strengthen pathways between the community college and the University of California campus. He and his wife, Joan, are longtime advocates for regional students.
“The Las Positas Promise reflects what two institutions can accomplish when they are dedicated to each other and to the students they serve," said Seppala. "This scholarship shows Las Positas College students that UC Merced is a welcoming, attainable next step. I'm proud that our Tri-Valley trustees came together to make that possible.”
The endowed fund is designed to provide scholarships to students annually, with the potential to expand its reach as the endowment grows.
Watkins, who chairs UC Merced's Boldly Forward comprehensive fundraising campaign, was instrumental in bringing the four trustees together around this shared commitment to the Tri-Valley's students and workforce.
"Beyond providing direct financial support and resources to these promising students, this endowment is a testament to our community’s belief in them and their potential," said Watkins. "Transfer students bring their spirit of determination and perseverance to UC Merced, and this endowed scholarship ensures that more of them get the chance to bring those qualities to the campus."
The scholarship builds on the Las Positas Promise, a formal partnership signed in 2024 that created a streamlined transfer pathway between Las Positas College and UC Merced. Developed in part through the sustained engagement of the university's Tri-Valley trustees, the agreement gives Las Positas students a defined route to earning a degree from UC Merced.
The Las Positas Promise is part of a broader network of transfer partnerships UC Merced has developed with California community colleges, including agreements with Madera Community College, Yosemite Community College District, Fresno City College and Merced College. Each partnership aims to attract, track and retain qualified students by developing academic program mapping tools and creating undergraduate research opportunities for students on track to transfer.
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