Students from Kern County have a scholarship opportunity to call their own thanks to a gift from Ray and Joan Dezember. The Dezember Scholarship was the first UC Merced scholarship established for students hailing from one county in the University's 13-county service area.
Longtime supporters of UC Merced, the Dezembers are founding members of the Chancellor's Associates and have lent their time to support development of th UC Merced Bakersfield Center, which they hope will enable even more students to receive degrees from the San Joaquin Valley's UC campus. Ray Dezember also is a founding member of the foundation Board of Trustees. The Dezembers live in Bakersfield, where they reared their four children and remain active leaders in the community.