Endowments Keep Students in the Classroom and Plugged into Research

There’s no arguing that a state university education is reasonably priced or that a UAlbany degree brings a big return on investment.  But for some outstanding students who can’t attend college without help, scholarships make the difference between focusing on schoolwork or the side jobs necessary to support themselves. These days, besides part-time and full-time jobs, internships are a necessary part of a successful job search. With all that, who has time for classes and homework?

Scholarships not only help students pay the bills, they benefit research.  Students who don’t have to work outside jobs can assist faculty research.  In fact, research is required for the newly established Professor Sanjay Goel Information Assurance Scholarship. The award will go to a student who is working in collaboration with a School of Business faculty member.

UAlbany alumnus Jonathan Pon, wife Aggie and family have funded the scholarship.  Pon’s daughter and son are current School of Business students: Damira, in the PhD program and Daren, an undergraduate, work in information security research with Dr. Goel. Another daugher, Dana '05 graduated from UAlbany with a business degree.   "The pursuit of excellence does not happen by itself,” Pon recently told e connections. “Targeted scholarships geared towards academic disciplines with motivated and talented teachers who have the vision and the drive to lead their students into the frontier of cutting edge and relevant research and practical application are part of a formula for future success. As an alumnus, it is my way of voting for the continued success of the University at Albany."

Sanjay Goel		Enrico Petri

Another new endowment is the Enrico Petri Scholarship, funded by alumni with lead gifts from Victor Petri ’87, ‘89, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Frank Fernandez, a former adjunct professor who currently works for Forbescom, Inc.  Both men serve on the School of Business Accounting Advisory Board. The scholarship supports a graduate student in the MS Tax program and is based on financial need.

The late Professor Emeritus of Accounting and Law, Enrico Petri was instrumental in graduating some of the top accounting students in the country. As chair of the accounting department from 1986 to 1989, he doubled enrollment.  He was also an outstanding researcher, ranking 7th in the nation in publications in the premier accounting journal, The Accounting Review.

The younger Petri said, “When my father passed away (in June 2002) our preference was donations to a scholarship fund established in his name, in lieu of flowers and cards.”  The burst of donations got the fund off to a good start. Soon after, Fernandez wrote Petri a letter sharing how much his relationship with the elder Petri meant to him. Fernandez offered to match up to $10,000. Petri’s employer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, matched $7,000 of Petri's $10,000 donation. The rest came from School of Business alumni, colleagues and friends of the late professor. Petri found that his colleagues “love to give to something where they can see a tangible connection.”  The scholarship was established this year and will be awarded in the next cycle.

All it takes is $25,000 and a dream.  Endowments can be created by individuals or groups and can be paid over time. School of Business scholarships have honored professors, parents and alumni. Other endowed business scholarships include:
Mark Taylor Award
Martha Bealler Altman Scholarship
IHRIM/ Edward S. Goldmacher Award
Towers Perrin Student Award
Hazel English Ferris Scholarship
Margaret Yager Middleton Scholarship
Ernest and Florence Bensinger Milano Scholarship
Wann Family Foundation

See the winners of these and other awards at the 2008 School of Business Award Ceremony on Wednesday, May 7.  For more information, please contact Sally Mills at smills@uamail.albany.edu or (518) 442-4272. We will be taking reservations until Friday, April 25.