Giving back to student scholarships

CSE alumni and friends behind industry-supported gifts—Sezzle, Polaris, 3M

December 23, 2020

Industry demand for a diverse pool of highly qualified and competitive candidates hasn’t gone away despite a year of upheaval and collective grief.

Instead, this call for the very best talent that also represents many kinds of diversity is more urgent.

The College of Science and Engineering’s longtime efforts to build this pipeline of skilled high-tech workers received a boost with three recent gifts focused on supporting students in BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) communities.

The donations are backed by corporate partners Sezzle, Polaris Inc., and 3M.

“Support from our generous alumni and industry partners is what we need to make real change for our students,” said Mos Kaveh, dean of the College of Science and Engineering.

“We hear from our students over and over about the impact that scholarships can have on their lives.”

[Editor's note: Republished from Inventing Tomorrow magazine]

Sezzle: One full scholarship for a new student each year

Sezzle’s connection to the University of Minnesota runs deep.

The co-founders of the rapidly growing fintech company—that offers American and Canadian consumers digital payment plans at online stores and select in-store locations—are Charlie Youakim (MechEng ‘99, MBA ‘10), Paul Paradis (MBA ‘10), Killian Brackey (studied computer science 2013-2017), and Mia Bernad (currently pursuing her MBA in Carlson School).

The gift from the Minneapolis-headquartered Sezzle includes a $124,000 donation to fund a full, four-year scholarship to a deserving student interested in data science, computer science, or computer engineering.

“Our goal in creating the Sezzle Scholars program is to do our part to solve a problem in the hopes that our actions will spur other technology partners to follow suit,” explained Youakim.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are areas of focus for Sezzle,” he said, “and it is our belief that supporting underrepresented groups in the pursuit of a technological career will help solve a systemic problem, one graduate at a time.”

For this year’s Sezzle Scholar, the impact of the scholarship is clear.

“This is a big deal, not only for me, but for my family,” said Jonathan Olaleye, a freshman in computer science and a budding entrepreneur who has designed apps and his own gaming system. “It removes so much stress associated with the financial side of college. There are a lot of things that I want to do over the next few years and after I earn my degree. Not having to worry about money, in the way that I otherwise would have, lets me focus on those things. Right now, all I can be is extremely grateful and make the most of this opportunity.”

Sezzle will continue to fund a full-ride scholarship for a new student each year.

Polaris: A gift for hands-on learning and leadership activities

The Polaris scholarship was heaven sent for computer engineering senior Beau Carlson. With mounting debt from medical issues, he had reached the point where he had to

choose between his health and education.

“With the [pandemic], my family and myself are no longer able to support my college fees,” he said. “Fortunately, with this scholarship, I no longer had to make this decision. To me, this means I can now graduate!”

Polaris Inc. donated $1 million to CSE to expand educational and experiential opportunities in STEM. The gift includes $50,000 annually for 10 scholarships aimed at  underrepresented students. The Polaris Scholars will also get to connect with company employees for networking and mentoring.

“Investing in the success of local students as they work toward a future in science and engineering is important to me personally and professionally,” said Ken Pucel (ME ‘89), Polaris executive VP and CSE Dean’s Advisory Board member.

“As a part of the Polaris team, I’m grateful for our company’s commitment to giving back and fostering growth in our local communities,” added Pucel, who serves as Polaris’ executive vice president of Global Operations, Engineering and Lean. “Polaris is proud to collaborate with the U of M Foundation to help build a diverse pipeline of future engineers and high-tech workers.”

As part of the donation, the 2,000- square-foot space in the Mechanical Engineering Building was named the Polaris Student Machine Shop. It is part of CSE’s Anderson Student Innovation Labs.

The Polaris gift, which will be distributed over the next five years, builds upon the company’s past contributions to the University of Minnesota that now total more than $3 million. Previous gifts also supported College of Science and Engineering student programs, such as LeaderShape and the CSE Winter Light Show.

3M: An employee match to transform the future

Jayshree Seth has 70 patents to her name—and holds two roles at 3M, which allow her to combine her technical expertise and creativity with her love of science.

“As a corporate scientist, I work with other engineers and scientists to break down complex problems and find solutions that stick,” she said. “As the company’s chief science advocate, I hope to help people of all ages around the world learn to appreciate science in their daily lives.”

Seth and her husband, Raghu Padiyath, division scientist in the company, are funding the Sankofa scholarship—in part with 3M’s matching gift program—to support Black students in CSE.

Their gift was motivated by a year that heightened the pervasive nature of racism.

“Racial disparities resulting from systemic racism impact many aspects of Black lives, including the lack of representation in STEM,” Seth noted. “We feel that this inequity must be addressed since STEM professionals and academics have a huge influence in shaping our future world.”

The couple, both graduates of Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, knew of a CSE scholarship by their colleague and friend Dave Yarusso (ChE ’78), a 3M scientist for nearly 35 years. Yarusso is credited with developing a solventless process for making masking tape. In 2011, he and his wife, Barb (ChE ‘78), established the Barbara J. and David J. Yarusso Scholarship for students majoring in chemical engineering or material sciences who have “overcome significant adversity in their life.”

The Sankofa scholarship is named after a term that resonated with Seth during her trip to Ghana for a 3M-sponsored service project, just before COVID-19 limited international travel. Sankofa in the Akan Twi language signifies that the past can illuminate the present.

“We hope that the horrific events in Minnesota in 2020, unmasking systemic racism,” she said, “will inspire many to commit to change and use one’s own pockets of privilege to ensure a just and equitable future for all.”

Seth is the author of The Heart of Science—Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints, & Imprints. All proceeds from the book go to a scholarship for underrepresented minority women in STEM administered by the Society of Women Engineers.

If you’d like to support CSE Response Fund or the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering, visit our CSE Giving website.