Victor Saldivar, 1979 - 2023

The BPSF Academic Scholarship is named in honor of Victor F. Saldivar because he contributed a unique melding of LGBTQIA+ advocacy and education to BPSF, TXST, and the San Marcos community. As a first generation student and QPOC himself, Victor was invested in seeing queer students succeed during their pursuit of further education. Coming from Eldorado, Texas, he earned his Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Human Resources Management and Personnel Administration from Baylor University and a Master of Science in College Student Counseling and Personnel Services from Arkansas Tech. 

He often used his experiences navigating higher education into his mentoring with students as a way to express encouragement in pursuing their educational goals. He served as the BPSF Programming Chair between 2013-2015 while he was a residence director at Texas State University, incorporating his passion for advocacy and education by involving students and community members in events to connect them with BPSF’s sources of support. He always brought his sly humor, smile, and laughter to BPSF. He was a fierce educator and advocate, Res Life superstar, and our friend.

When Victor passed in 2023 the board wanted to honor Victor’s contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community pursuing further education in the San Marcos area by naming the Academic Scholarship in his honor. This decision was supported in communication with his sister Stacie Ramos, on behalf of the family, to carry on Victor’s legacy.  

The Emergency Stabilization Fund is named in Jeremy O. Torres’s honor because he is part of the fabric of BPSF.  He was with BPSF from our initial steps, directed all of our Drag Out Funny fundraisers held at Texas Music Theater, coordinated and involved community members in the Reading of “8” in conjunction with a BPSF donor social, and as our Student Social Coordinator arranged for BPSF to attend Rent and speak with the actors.  He was always involved in the San Marcos LGBTQIA+ community, inclusive of San Marcos community members.  He was 100% behind the establishment of the Emergency Stabilization Fund (ESF) in 2013 and informed students of the support available when disbursements began in 2014.  When he passed in 2016 the leadership felt strongly that ESF embodied the love and support Jeremy always offered others.  In communication with his mother, Shirley Abernethy, it was agreed we would rename the fund in his honor and his family chose BPSF as a memorial contribution to carry his legacy. 

"As a family, we are so proud of the Jeremy O Torres Emergency Stabilization Fund. Jeremy faced many struggles in his life as a gay man, so it was critical to him to help others when they needed it most. Knowing this fund named in his honor continues to offer support and hope for those who need it means so much to us. We are proud of his legacy and are grateful for all the work you do for the LQBTQIA+ community." ~ Jeremy's family, Shirley Abernethy and Patrick Torres.

The Jeremy O. Torres Emergency Stabilization Fund is funded in whole or in part by the City of San Marcos.

The Nations Family Scholarship, administered in partnership with the Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund (BPSF), reflects a shared commitment to inclusion, equity, and access to higher education. The Nations Family are passionate advocates for educational opportunity—particularly for transgender students and the broader LGBTQIA+ community—and established this scholarship to help remove financial barriers for students who too often face systemic challenges in pursuing their goals.

Through this partnership with BPSF, the Nations Family Scholarship supports promising and talented LGBTQIA+ students who demonstrate both financial need and a strong commitment to inclusion, advocacy, and community care. Recipients are students who not only seek academic success, but who also work to advance equity and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community through their actions, leadership, and lived experience.

Together, the Nations Family and BPSF invest in students who are building a more just and inclusive future—recognizing education as a powerful tool for personal growth, community impact, and lasting change.