Donors Meet Scholars

From left to right, Courtney Giannini ‘12, the Freda Dicker Scholar, Bijan Salari ‘11, the Jack Dicker Scholar, Eileen Dicker and Stanley Dicker EngScD ’61.
From left to right, Courtney Giannini ’12, the Freda Dicker Scholar, Bijan Salari ’11, the Jack Dicker Scholar, Eileen Dicker and Stanley Dicker EngScD ’61.
Hemant Shah, Varsha Shah Scholar Whitney Greene ‘10, and Varsha Shah. The Shahs are parents of Sachin ‘06 and Sumeet ‘08.
Hemant Shah, Varsha Shah Scholar Whitney Greene ’10, and Varsha Shah. The Shahs are parents of Sachin ’06 and Sumeet ’08.
Sheldon E. Isakoff Scholar Brian Albert ‘10, center, with Sheldon Isakoff ‘45,’47,’52 and his wife Anita.
Sheldon E. Isakoff Scholar Brian Albert ’10, center, with Sheldon Isakoff ’45,’47,’52 and his wife Anita.
Deborah Haight ‘00, left, with Shanita Nicholas ‘09, the Haight Family Scholar.
Tullio J. Borri ‘51 with Anthony
Tullio J. Borri ’51, left, with Anthony Coia ’11, the Class of 1951 Scholar; Deborah Haight ’00 with Shanita Nicholas ’09, the Haight Family Scholar
Many SEAS students who hold named scholarships were able to meet the donors who have made possible their education at Columbia at a dinner held last month at Low Library Rotunda. Interim Dean Gerald A. Navratil thanked the donors of endowed scholarships for their commitment to educating the next generation of engineers. He expressed the hope that meeting their students early in the academic year will foster greater communication between donors and scholars.

This year, the program featured two students and a donor. James and Donna Down Scholar Kenneth Yearwood ’09 was master of ceremonies, introducing Sabrina Monteverde ’09, the Richard and Janet Hunter Scholar and a 3-2 student who previously attended Scripps College. Sabrina, a chemical engineering major, speaking on behalf of all the scholars, told the group how she appreciated the opportunity to be a student at Columbia SEAS.

Stanley Dicker EngScD’61, donor of the Freda Dicker Scholarship and the Jack Dicker Scholarship as well as the Stanley Dicker Professorship in Biomedical Engineering, spoke of his time as a graduate student at SEAS, returning to school after beginning his career as an air conditioning engineer, and, because of his older brother’s interest in nursing homes, becoming a builder of these health care facilities.

“Columbia was good to me,” said Dr. Dicker, explaining that the School found him a research position that allowed him to continue his doctoral education. As a result, when he was financially able to do so, he chose to give back to the School by endowing two scholarships in memory of his parents and by creating the professorship in biomedical engineering.