CalViva Health has given $500,000 to support scholarships at Fresno State over the past four years, most recently giving $100,000 for the 2023-24 academic year.
CalViva Health is a locally managed health care plan dedicated to improving access to quality care in Fresno, Kings and Madera counties. The partnership between CalViva Health and Fresno State continues to elevate the quality of life in the Central Valley, as it’s impacted nearly 100 students in the health care-related majors, including Bonnie Morgan and Parmeet Kaur.
Born in India and raised in Fresno, Kaur graduated from Fresno State in spring 2023 with a degree in biology. Prior to graduation, Kaur was a member of the biology honors program, participated in a research lab and served as the vice president of the Pre-Med Club. Kaur also served as a coordinator for Camp Kesem, an organization that supports children affected by a parent’s cancer.
“My mom’s battle with cancer heavily influenced my decision to pursue medicine,” Kaur said. “But I also feel that it’s grounded in things I value most, service and science. Becoming a doctor aligns with my interest in science and wanting a career that fulfills my passion for helping others. I would like to go to medical school and eventually become a physician in the Central Valley.”
To be eligible for the CalViva Health scholarship, students must be enrolled full-time, qualify for state and federal financial aid, maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, and have a major within the health care industry.
At Fresno State, over 5,500 students major in health care-related studies each year, making up over 20% of the student population. About 4,000 nurses have graduated from the university’s undergraduate nursing program, and 90% of those graduates have stayed in the Central Valley to serve.
About 66% of Fresno State students are the first in their families to earn a college degree, and nearly 90% of students were raised in the Central Valley, where more than 20% of residents live below the federal poverty level.
An estimated 82% of Fresno State students receive some type of financial aid, including federal and state financial aid grants, student loans, scholarships, tuition waivers or veterans education benefits.
“My goal is to become a nurse practitioner so I can better serve my community, especially in the beautiful Central Valley,” Morgan said. “I am the first generation in my family to go to a university and a mother of three children, so going to Fresno State feels like a dream come true. I am beyond thankful for this wonderful scholarship that will help me to achieve my goals.”
If you’re interested in supporting student success by establishing a scholarship at Fresno State, contact Katie Bewarder at 559.278.5768 or katieadamo@csufresno.edu.
