Advocating for More Women in STEM, Avanade Awards Scholarships at NJIT

Six exceptional students have been awarded the Avanade STEM Scholarship to further their pursuit of a degree at NJIT. Avanade, in support of its mission to encourage young people - especially women - to study and succeed in STEM disciplines, has partnered with NJIT since 2016 and awarded scholarships annually to advance this cause.

Avanade, a recipient of the "Corporate Partner of the Year" at NJIT's annual Celebration gala, has also selected more than a dozen students to participate in their corporate mentorship program that pairs a student with an Avanade employee throughout the year.

Elif Kiziltan, a biological sciences major in the College of Science and Liberal Arts, is one of the awardees and says this scholarship has allowed her to spend more time focused on her academic pursuits.

"It brought tears to my eyes, not only on the day of receiving such great news, but also after my interview where I was recognized for my diligence, empathy and kindness," said Kiziltan. "I am eternally grateful to the selection committee who believed I was deserving of this amazing opportunity."

Kiziltan has impassioned plans to become a pediatric doctor, and is spending as much time as she can connecting with professors and medical professionals to establish a path toward a medical degree and ultimately a career in medicine. Noting the recent technological innovations wrought by the pandemic, she is interested in improving the technology and care of newborn incubators. "I plan to one day be one of the reasons why a mother is grateful their baby has survived."

Our relationship with Avanade exemplifies what a corporate-university partnership can achieve...

Avanade, a global technology professional services company that was founded as a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture, has been a longstanding partner with NJIT in supporting the increased presence of women in STEM.

In 2015, for the company's 15th anniversary, Avanade launched the 15 for 15 Avanade Scholarship Program to support talented female students with STEM aspirations. NJIT was one of the three initial university partners to receive scholarships, with the first cohort of five Highlanders receiving their scholarships in 2016.

"Our relationship with Avanade exemplifies what a corporate-university partnership can achieve when goals, missions, and aspirations align," said NJIT President Teik C. Lim. "We are profoundly grateful to Avanade for its continued commitment to working with NJIT to develop the STEM talent that is so critical to the 21st century economy - and to the future health, happiness, and prosperity of humanity as a whole."

With more than 20 scholars having received over $600,000, and many more students participating in the mentorship program, Avanade's generosity is easy to calculate, but its impact is far greater than the ledger shows.

"The scholarship significantly altered the course of my life," said Shravanthi Budhi '19 '20, who holds a bachelor's in business and a master's in management from NJIT. Budhi received the scholarship in the spring of 2017 and credits the award for giving her the opportunity to focus on initiatives she was passionate about, as well as shaping her decision to pursue a master's.

Now a senior consultant at Avanade, the scholarship also inspired her and other recipients of the Avanade STEM Scholarship to give thanks by giving back, or paying it forward in this case. Budhi and four additional alumnae have started a "Thank You, Avanade" scholarship at NJIT to support more young women studying STEM and, in a small way, thank Avanade for all the support it has given them. Budhi, finding every opportunity to help others generate success like hers, is also a founding member of NJIT's South Asian Alumni Network, which launched in 2023.

While the "Thank You, Avanade" scholarship, like Avanade's own financial contributions, is a critical component of ensuring female representation in STEM, Budhi believes that Avanade is also on the receiving end of this deal.

"We are consistently learning from every cohort that joins us. The areas in which I see the biggest impact is in the work we do with the mentorship program. I have spoken with many mentors who all share the same sentiment that they have grown a great deal themselves by mentoring the next generation. It has been incredibly fulfilling for all parties involved," Budhi said.

Change Things for the Better

For an organization that is built around the aspiration of positively impacting others, it is not a "big stretch" to augment their client-based solutions with helping local communities and society at-large.

"Our organization, by nature, is very aware of how we can impact others. It's the nature of our business," said Valentin Guerin, who has worked at Avanade for nearly two decades and manages the relationship between the organization and NJIT. Guerin also sits on the Board of Advisors for NJIT's Martin Tuchman School of Management. Guerin was among the first mentors in the program when Avanade conceived it in 2015, which started with just 15 scholarships across three universities.

Avanade has contributed more than $600,000

Now, Avanade's STEM Scholarship is available across 20 universities in eight countries, has funded more than 350 scholars, and has seen 18 of their scholars join Avanade full time, including a handful from NJIT.

"I was drawn to Avanade's culture, human-centric approach, and their commitment to bringing out the best in their employees," said Budhi. It would seem that changing things for the better starts with giving those that share the vision the opportunity to do so. People like Budhi, Kiziltan and the rest of current and former Avanade Scholars have been the keys to these cultural and corporate changes.

"We know the Avanade scholarship mentorship programs have a direct impact on each individual student, that is a given," said Andrew Christmann, Avanade senior director and executive sponsor for the Avanade-NJIT partnership. "More broadly, the NJIT-Avanade partnership and our common focus on growing the number of women in STEM has a deep and positive impact on Avanade, our clients and the communities we live and work in.

"Every time I step onto campus I am struck by the energy and passion of NJIT students and how together we are dedicated to improving the lives of people from around the world."

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