The Buck Scholars Association (BSA) is an independent non-profit organization established in 2008 by the nearly 300 scholarship recipients of the Frank H. and Eva B. Buck Foundation (Buck Scholars).
Our Mission
BSA’s mission is two-fold:
Foster the personal and professional growth of the Buck Scholars now spread across the globe; and
Expand educational opportunities for a new generation of extraordinarily promising Northern California youth.
The Buck Scholars Association begins…
…with the Frank H. and Eva B. Buck Foundation, a private foundation established in 1990 to support the education of promising Northern California youth. The Buck Foundation achieved this initiative through the Frank H. Buck Scholarship program, which provided full scholarship support to students chosen from six counties: Contra Costa, Yolo, Napa, Solano, Sacramento, and San Joaquin. These counties made up the congressional district served by Frank H. Buck during the 72nd through 76th United States Congresses (1932-42).
Over 280 full-ride scholarships were awarded between 1990 and 2010. The Frank H. Buck Scholarship enabled its recipients, known as Buck Scholars, to attend some of the world’s most elite institutions, push the frontiers of their respective academic fields, start new companies and initiatives, and make significant contributions to their communities.
The Buck Foundation closed in the spring of 2016, coinciding with the Frank H. Buck Scholarship program’s 25th anniversary. Today, the spirit and legacy of the Frank H. & Eva B. Buck Foundation continues through the Buck Scholars Association.
Continuing the Legacy
In 2014, the BSA launched the Buck Fellows Program, a mentoring and scholarship program to help outstanding Northern California high school students who demonstrate high academic and leadership potential. Fellows are chosen in their sophomore year of high school through a competitive selection process. Over 45 Fellows have been selected so far, with a new class added each year.
Board of Directors
Meet the Staff
Brenda Castillo, Executive Director
Brenda (Buck Scholar ‘05) joins the Buck Scholar Association after working with high school students in various capacities - from tutoring, college advising to mentoring - and assisting with operations and selection at the Pahara Institute, a leadership development organization and lead of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship for public-education leaders around the nation.
Brenda has experience in various career sectors, from entrepreneurship, government, non-profit, and design, to better assist students as they decide their career paths.
Brenda holds degrees in Political Economy and Business Administration from UC Berkeley and the Haas School of Business, respectively, and certificates in Design Communications and Interaction Design from UCLA. She also participated in the Coro Fellow Program in Public Affairs and is a Summer Search Alumna. Lastly, Brenda is a former DACA recipient. In her free time, Brenda enjoys staying active and pursuing creative projects.