UCIRA Legacy Scholarship Recipients

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As a way to support our undergraduate students, the UCI Retirees Association established a Legacy Scholarship program in 2019. These scholarships are for students who have a family member with one of these connections to UCI: UCI retiree, UCI alumni, or current UCI staff member.

We hope to increase the number of scholarships that we award and invite you to contribute to this effort.

2025-26 Legacy Scholarship Recipients

Aislin Henry

2025-26 Freshman Student Recipient

Aislin Henry is an incoming freshman majoring in Art and part of the Campus Wide Honors Program. In high school, she was the leader of her cross country team, run club, and Applied Agriculture and Environmental Science Club, which operates her schools’ farm. At UCI, she plans to take part in the Creative Connections Internship, which would allow her to connect with K-12 students through art and pursue her interest in teaching. Receiving the Legacy Scholarship will support Aislin and her family as they work to fund the higher education of her and her three sisters.

Dominick Ninh

2025-26 Freshman Student Recipient

Dominick Ninh is an incoming freshman from Garden Grove, CA. He is majoring in Biological Sciences, aspiring to become a geriatrician one day. Graduating from Garden Grove High School, he was the president of the Environmental Club, recycling over hundreds of pounds of glass, cans, and plastic bottles. On his weekends, he is a church youth leader for the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement, leading and teaching young generations the Catholic faith. The scholarship will help him pay his tuition, allowing him to focus on his academic life while motivating him to work hard.

Richard Rios

2025-26 Transfer Student Recipient

Richard Rios is a transfer student from Santa Ana, CA, majoring in Business Administration. His sister is a UCI alumna, inspiring him to continue his family’s legacy at the university. He graduated with honors from Santa Ana College, gained experience working in small businesses, and interned with the City of Santa Ana. He plans to use this scholarship to focus on his studies and prepare for a future career in the business world.

David Yeung

2025-26 Freshman Student Recipient

David Yeung is an incoming freshman from Diamond Bar, CA, majoring in Computer Science and Engineering. He has a passion for 3D graphics programming and embraces the idea that innovation should be made accessible to the community. Just like his father, David is honored to be an anteater and feels humble for being entrusted with the UCIRA Legacy Scholarship award and thanks the UCIRA from the bottom of his anteater heart. This award not only eases part of his education financial needs, but it also stimulates him to continue pursuing his vision. He hopes to be able to continue the UCIRA’s anteater legacy of always looking after the community.

Anonymous Recipient

2025-26 Transfer Student Recipient

Recipient is a Political Sciences major.

Anonymous Recipient

2025-26 Transfer Student Recipient

Recipient is a Psychology major.

2024-25 Legacy Scholarship Recipients

Fatima Alarcon

2024-25 Freshman Student Recipient

Fatima Alarcon is an incoming 1st generation freshman from Corona, CA majoring in Aerospace Engineering. During high school, she participated in Norco’s NAVSEA Summer SEAP Internship as a Calibrator. She had the opportunity to be a part of an engineering family and learn from their experiences. Fatima was president of her high school’s Femineers female engineering club whose goal was to empower and encourage young female generations and minorities in STEM. The funds will help her pursue education and research with less financial worry.

Muhanad Hilal

2024-25 Freshman Student Recipient

Muhanad Hilal is an incoming freshman majoring in Biological Sciences. His mother is an alumna of UC Irvine. While in high school, Muhanad worked in a neuroscience lab at UCI and hopes to continue this research in the future as he explores his interests in neurobiology. Receiving this scholarship will allow him to devote more time to his academic endeavors.

Anonymous Recipient

2024-25 Transfer Student Recipient

Recipient is a Public Health Sciences major.

Trang Thanh Vo

2024-25 Transfer Student Recipient

Trang Thanh Vo is a transfer student from Sacramento, CA, majoring in Business Economics. Her uncle, Dr. Jimmy B. Tran, is a UCI alumni who graduated in 2000 and established his own dental practice, City Dental OC, in Irvine. She graduated high school early at 15 years old as a sophomore via the CHSPE before studying at Sacramento City College. Trang Thanh was the founder of a graphic design business she started at 15, which generated five figures in sales within its first year. Her passion lies in using her talents to serve the needs of those who would benefit from her entrepreneurial skills, while also returning the favor to those who have helped her along the way. She plans to use this scholarship to focus on her academic and entrepreneurial goals while contributing to UC Irvine’s diverse and dynamic community.

2023-24 Legacy Scholarship Recipients

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

2023-24 Transfer Student Recipient

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

2023-24 Freshman Student Recipient

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.

2022-23 Legacy Scholarship Recipients

Grace Chen

2022-23 Transfer Student Recipient

Grace Chen is a transfer student from Orange, CA, majoring in Biological Sciences. While at Santiago Canyon College, she greatly enjoyed serving as a Supplemental Instruction leader and helping others through community service. Her mother is a UCI alumna and her sister is a current UCI student. After graduating from UCI, she plans to go on to graduate school, work in the medical field, and use her talents and interests to serve others.

Click here to see and hear how the scholarship has impacted Grace!

Arsema Getahun

2022-23 Freshman Student Recipient

Arsema Getahun is a first-generation freshman majoring in Cognitive Sciences. Her uncle is a UCI alumnus. While a student at Culver City High School, she volunteered in the Neurology Department at Cedars Sinai Hospital which piqued her interest in pursuing a career in the medical field. Receiving the Legacy Scholarship will allow her to devote more time to her educational goals and to make her dream of attending a university come true.

Larissa Teramura

2022-23 Transfer Student Recipient

Larissa Teramura is a freshman from Kailua, Hawaii, majoring in biomedical engineering. Her father, aunt, and uncle are UCI alumni. While in high school, she volunteered and held leadership roles in local tennis organizations and at her former elementary school. She plans to use the scholarship money to help pay for school fees, allowing her to focus more on her studies and athletics on the UCI women’s tennis team.

2021-22 Legacy Scholarship Recipients

Chloe Ellis

2021-22 Freshman Student Recipient

Chloe Ellis is a first-generation freshman student majoring in Sociology. Her aunt is a UCI alumnus. While in high school she volunteered with One Heart, a charity that supports orphanages in Taiwan. After graduation, she hopes to work in a career that will allow her to continue giving service to the community.

Jasmine Casey

2021-22 Transfer Student Recipient

Jasmine Casey is a first-generation transfer student from Oakland, CA, majoring in Sociology. Her aunt is a UCI alumnus. While at Las Positas Community College, she held leadership roles in several clubs. The study of Sociology has helped her adopt and strive for more cultural competence and empathy and has deepened her sense of social justice.

2020-21 Legacy Scholarship Recipients

Vivian Liu

2020-21 Freshman Student Recipient

Vivian Liu is a freshman from El Monte, CA, majoring in Biological Sciences. Her brother is a UCI alumnus. Her career goal is to become a Physician Assistant. Her hobbies are photography and calligraphy. She plans to use the scholarship money to help with books and fees.

Melissa Montoya

2020-21 Transfer Student Recipient

Melissa Montoya is a transfer student from Paramount, CA, majoring in Criminology, Law and Society. She’s looking forward to attending UCI and continuing her journey to find her passion and channel that into a career. Her brother is a UCI alumnus. Receiving the scholarship will allow her to focus more on her studies.