Buddy & Mary Ramos Scholarship

The Buddy & Mary Ramos Scholarship is available through the University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation for a full-time student who demonstrates financial need and participates in the UCM Academic Success Advising program. This scholarship is made possible by way of a generous gift from Buddy Ramos ’74, ’78 and Mary Ramos ’75, ’80, ’83.

While the general application is not required to be eligible for this scholarship, completing it will significantly increase applicants’ chances of selection.

Mary Boenish-Ramos and Buddy Ramos met on the University of Central Missouri’s (UCM) campus in 1973, and they married in the Alumni Chapel in 1975. Mary is from Dyersville, Iowa and is from a large family of eight. She received her bachelor’s degree in Recreation from UCM in 1975 and then went on to earn master’s degrees in Reading and in Guidance and Counseling. Mary was a classroom teacher and reading specialist for 30 years serving in Title 1 schools. Mary knows that helping students learn to read at an early age will provide them with the foundation necessary for future success.
Dr. Manuel “Buddy“ Ramos earned his bachelor of science degree in 1974, master of science degree in 1977, and education specialist degree in 1980 from UCM. He went on to earn his doctorate degree in Higher Education from the University of Kansas. Buddy is a first-generation Mexican American graduate and was raised by a single mother in Waynesville, Missouri. He is the only member of his family to attend college.

Initially, Buddy had no intentions of attending college after high school, but he received a call from Coach Howard Mahanes, the CMSU Football Coach, inviting him to play for the Mules as a walk-on non-scholarship player. During the recruitment and enrollment process, Coach Mahanes assigned a person to work with him to complete all necessary financial aid forms and take him to meet with an advisor. Without this assistance and guidance, he would not have attended college. After his freshman year, it became abundantly clear he didn’t have what was necessary to be on a college football team. However, he discovered he enjoyed the campus and academic life.

Professionally, Ramos’ career includes 35 years of experience working in higher education and nine years of public-school experience. He worked as a college counselor and then a Student Services Administrator at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park Kansas for 13 years. Dr. Ramos is a Past President of The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). NACADA is a global organization of over 14,000 members that promotes and supports quality academic advising in institutions of higher education to enhance the educational development of students. He served on the NACADA Board for many years culminating with being elected President of NACADA.

In 1996, he entered the private sector as a higher education consultant for IBM traveling across the country working with many leading institutions in the country such as Princeton University, and many R1 research universities. After IBM, he worked for other leading technology companies such as PeopleSoft and Oracle before retiring in 2016. He still serves on a few technologies related board of directors. His expertise is in helping colleges and universities integrate people, processes, and technology. Buddy has always felt the education and experience he had at UCM truly set the course of his life. Without that experience, his life would be quite different.