State of the College / Foundation Annual Report

PepsiCo’s Indra Nooyi establishes scholarship A surprise announcement at the annual Business Council of Westchester dinner last fall established a new scholarship fund for students at Westchester Community College. The evening’s honoree, newly retired PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, revealed that she had directed a grant of $100,000 to create the PepsiCo Performance with Purpose Scholarship fund to mark the end of her twelve year tenure as the company’s first female CEO. Because she noted how important STEM fields are to driving progress and solving many of the world’s pressing challenges, these scholarships will be awarded to disadvantaged students who intend to pursue careers in STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with a special focus on students fromWhite Plains, Port Chester, Mount Pleasant, and Harrison. A beloved board leader’s legacy gift Long-time Board member, scholarship donor, and visionary Lois Cowan passed away at the age of 94 last summer. Throughout nearly twenty years of service to the college and the Foundation, Lois was a steadfast supporter of our students. She was also the first to establish resources for student emergency aid. Her interest in addressing food insecurity in students led to the establishment of the college’s Food Pantry. Her bequest helps perpetuate this important assistance for our students. Preparing the 21st century workforce JPMorgan Chase and Westchester Community Foundation (a division of the New York Community Trust) teamed up to support the college’s first Workforce Training Extension Center, with grants of $200,000 and $100,000 respectively. Located in downtown White Plains, short-term classes leading to jobs in information technology, healthcare, and culinary management are offered, as well as pathways towards degrees. Alumna pays it forward Annette Mulee (class of 1975) attributes her success to her time at the college. She grew up in Thornwood, and was the first in her family to attend college. Encouraged to consider Ivy League transfer schools by a counselor, she finished her BA at Cornell University, earned an MBA at Columbia University, then moved to Portland and obtained a JD. She has been an attorney for more than thirty years, and has decided to “give back” by establish- ing a scholarship fund. “I paid my own way at Westches- ter Community College, but will be always grateful for the opportunities it opened up for me,” she says. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants AndrewWiener, Executive Director, MAXX Properties, stands in for his father Bob as keynote speaker at the 2018 Scholarship Recognition Cere- mony. He presented Dr. Miles with a cherished family statue symbolizing how each of us are standing on the shoulders of the family members, leaders, and professors that have come before us. GRANTS, DONORSAND INVESTMENTS 2020 State of the College & Foundation Annual Report 20 21