ADVERTISEMENTs
.png)
Jay and Jyoti Chaudhry pledge $4 million to support first-generation students at alma mater
Jay and Jyoti Chaudhry earned MBAs from the University of Cincinnati in 1986 and 1987.
Jay Chaudhry (L) and Jyothi Chaudhry (C) / Image - LinkedIn/ Jay Chaudhry
Indian-American technology entrepreneur and the CEO of cloud security company Zscaler, Jay Chaudhry, along with his wife Jyothi Chaudhry have pledged a $4 million gift to the University of Cincinnati.
The donation establishes the Chaudhry Family Scholarship Fund to support first-generation, Pell-eligible students in the Gen-1 1MPACT House, a living-learning community. It will provide scholarships for approximately 150 students starting in fall 2025, filling financial gaps after federal grants and other awards are applied, the University said in a statement.
UC president Neville G. Pinto praised the couple’s generosity, calling it a transformative gesture for students, families, and communities. “I’m truly grateful that Jay and Jyoti are dedicated partners in our ongoing commitment to first-generation students,” he said.
“We are very grateful for the excellent education we got at UC which played a significant role in our success. In fact, both of us got tuition scholarships for our graduate studies without which we couldn’t afford to get our masters’ degrees,” said Jay and Jyoti Chaudhry.
Jay obtained two masters of science degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science in electrical and computer engineering and Industrial engineering and management in 1982 and 1983 respectively. He further earned his MBA from the same university in 1986, while Jyothi earned her MBA degree in the year 1987.
“This scholarship fund is a gesture of our gratitude and appreciation to our alma mater that will help many needy students to complete their college education and change their and their families’ lives,” they added.
Suzette Combs, director of the Gen-1 Program, emphasized the gift’s impact. “This gift lets them know that there are people out there who believe in them and think they belong here,” Combs said. “There’s very little that can take the place of that and it is empowering for our students.”
The Gen-1 Program, established in 2008, was the first residential initiative in the U.S. to focus on first-generation college students. Offering comprehensive academic, personal, and social support, the program boasts a first-to-second-year retention rate of 98 percent, far exceeding the national average of 68 percent for first-generation students.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.JPG)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login