Fund:

Brenda Martinez Women’s Track Scholarship Fund

Department:

Womens Track D02124

Purpose:

Undergraduate Student Support

BACKGROUND
Kathy earned her teaching credential, master's degree, and administrative services credential from UC Riverside (UCR). After serving more than thirty years with Riverside's Alvord Unified School District, she retired as the Superintendent in 2008. Kathy remains an active and dedicated volunteer for numerous organizations in the Riverside community, including UCR, where she has served on the advisory committee for the School of Education and as a trustee on the UCR Foundation
Board.

Dwight began his professional career as a substitute schoolteacher. He then took a position at a hospital where he worked with individuals and their families who have developmental disabilities. After earning his master's degree in social work from USC, he worked as a licensed clinical social worker for 20 years before transitioning into financial advising. Dwight retired after an additional 20 years of financial advising for Waddell & Reed in Riverside.

Dwight and Kathy’s unwavering support and love for UC Riverside shines through the many ways they choose to give back and stay involved. In addition to their leadership roles on campus, they have also been long-time champions of UCR Athletics and in particular women’s athletics. Not only do they enjoy watching track and field events during the Olympics, they took a keen admiration to local hometown track star, Brenda Martinez. Their interest in track and field was sparked by following Brenda’s running career as a student and thereafter.

Brenda graduated from Rancho Cucamonga High School and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in sociology, law, and society at UC Riverside. While at UCR, she was a 3-time NCAA All-American, she was awarded UC Riverside Female Athlete of the Year in 2008 and 2010 and recognized as the Big West Women’s Track Athlete of the Year in 2009. She won a silver medal in the 800 meters at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow, becoming the first U.S. woman to medal in the race. In 2016, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic team where she competed in the 1500 meters and earned a spot in the semi-finals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As a proud alumna, Brenda was also recognized as the 2019 Outstanding Young Alumni honoree as part of the annual UCR Alumni Awards of Distinction and joined an impressive roaster of UCR’s inaugural, 40 under 40 notable alumni in 2022. Brenda embodies the Highlander spirit by demonstrating leadership and commitment not only as a professional athlete but also in her local community. As a first-generation college student, she is committed to doing her best no matter what adversity she faces and does it with a positive attitude. She strives to empower others to do the same and gives back to her community by hosting a high-altitude summer training camp for youth from the Inland Empire.

Dwight and Kathy’s goal with this scholarship is to inspire future generations of Highlander student-athletes with a focus on women’s track and field.

Fund Purpose: This Fund shall be used to provide scholarship assistance to a current or incoming student-athlete who is a member in good standing of the UCR Intercollegiate Women’s Track & Field team that best displays the Highlander Spirit reminiscent of Brenda Martinez.


Criteria and Selection Process
The process of identifying a recipient will be determined each year by the Director of Track & Field and will be awarded to a student-athlete who meets the following criteria:
- A current or incoming student-athlete who is a member in good standing of the UCR Intercollegiate Women’s Track & Field team.
- Preference first-generation college student.
- Preference for a student from San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties.
- Preference for a current or former foster youth.

The Director of Track & Field shall have the flexibility to select one or more student/athletes, depending on circumstances and the needs of the team. In years when there is no candidate who meets the criteria, awards will be held until the following year.