The Vital and Alice Pellissier Family Distinguished Speaker Series

Vital Pellissier left France in the early 1900s to begin a new life in California. After he met his wife, Alice, the two began what would become a multigenerational business in agriculture. Their revered work ethic, celebration of family, and belief in education provided the strong foundation from which generations have prospered and will continue to thrive.

To this end, the grandchildren of Vital and Alice Pellissier wish to honor the countless life lessons and esprit de corps that have been passed on through this remarkable couple by naming an endowed fund to support a distinguished speaker series at UC Merced that will both educate and inspire exploration. The Pellissier family hopes that the endowment made possible by this gift will improve the quality of life for the community and society at large, thus providing a living legacy that will honor Vital and Alice Pellissier in perpetuity.