Imagine committing to and staying at Fresno State, and your first two years on campus were paid for. Maxine McDonald Residential Scholars Program (MMRSP) does that and more. Since 2023, the MMRSP has been helping kids find their footing at Fresno State by providing free room and board and unlimited dining hall swipes.
The MMRSP is named after Maxine McDonald, who – according to the MMRSP’s website – has a 34-year legacy at Fresno State of helping over 1,700 first-generation students, faculty and staff. Her influence has helped shape programs including Summer Bridge, the Educational Opportunity Program, and the College Assistance Migrant Program.
The MMRSP provides students with exclusive access to program-specific courses and enrichment activities, and the opportunity to bond with peers in the 24-student, two-year program. Students start school one week early to get acquainted with one another, complete the ropes course at Fresno State, and engage in community service in the Fresno area. Later in the semester, students also go on a winter retreat before finals.
The MMRSP allows students of all races to apply, but it is primarily for Black and African American students. Other races are welcome to apply for this Scholarship Program, which shows it’s still open to diverse races and backgrounds and gives more students the opportunity to be part of something special. At the same time, it’s important to recognize that the program was created largely to support Black students in higher education by providing resources, community, and opportunities that help them succeed and feel represented on campus. It creates a space where they can feel seen, supported, and empowered as they work toward their goals.
To be part of the program, students must have a 2.8 GPA, which they also must maintain each semester for the two years they are in the program. The next step in enrolling in the program is to get interviewed by the MMRSP staff. Five scholars who have been part of the program shared advice on what it takes to join and the benefits it offers.
Darryl Toney, who is from Visalia and graduated from the Maxine McDonald Scholarship Program in May 2026, said that he enjoyed his first two years at Fresno State in the MMRSP.
“The bond that we’ve made with one another has led us to be a family,” Toney said.
Taylor Roberson, a first-year student in the MMRSP from Fresno, shared Toney’s sentiments and emphasized the connections students can make.
“It’s more than free housing and free food. You meet people who will eventually become a part of your family. You learn more about yourself, and whenever you need it, your fam is here to help get you to the finish line,” Robertson said.
A’Kayla Brown from Sacramento is also a first-year student in the MMRSP, which she said is like having a second family.
“A second family from people you never expected to meet and ones you can’t imagine being in college without now,” Brown said.
Evan Spurlin-Renfroe from Los Angeles, who graduated from the MMRSP in May 2026, said the program helped him grow and echoed Brown’s point that the friends he made felt like family.
“The scholarship was more than a place to fit in. It caused me to grow and find an extended piece of family that carries through my duration of college,” he said.
Tori Garcia, a Central Valley native who lives in Riverdale, said she was very shy during her first year in college, but then came out of her shell and started making friends and fitting in.
“MMRSP is more than academics and the perks. When you become a scholar, you gain a community and build your own family away from home. I came in nervous about fitting in, but everyone was so welcoming and genuine that it quickly became and felt like a place where I truly belonged. No matter what, there’s always someone there for you,” Garcia said.
Those interested in learning more about the MMRSP and possibly applying to join it can contact Sade Johnson, the head counselor of the MMRSP, at [email protected] or (559) 278-2744. Applications for the program are open from December to March. Decisions are dispersed in early May.
