Sina Toussi ’91 established an undergraduate scholarship in honor of Professors Allen Wood and David Lyons. The gift contributes to Cornell’s Undergraduate Affordability Initiative.
Growing up, Bixby Piccolo Hill ’27 and his three siblings spent a lot of time playing together as a family. He explains that in their TV-free household, the siblings liked to make up imaginary scenarios and play act. When Bixby was in elementary school, his older sister, Parker Piccolo Hill ’25, performed in her middle … Read the full story
Were it not for a teachers’ strike that happened decades before she was born, Connecticut native Katherine (Katie) DeRose ’26 might not have thought about applying to Cornell. During her junior year of high school, Katie did a capstone research project on the Bridgeport teachers’ protest of 1978. Teachers there went on strike to protest … Read the full story
For 24 hours, donors rallied together to help Cornell University reach for the stars on its eleventh Giving Day, March 13, 2025. This year’s space-themed event raised $11,206,717 from 17,591 donors, for a total of 25,929 gifts making a tangible show of support for causes across the university. “Cornellians everywhere demonstrated their continued commitment to … Read the full story
The commitment, the largest in Cornell Engineering’s history, from David A. Duffield ’62, MBA ’64, will significantly expand the college’s existing Duffield Hall, creating a new state-of-the-art home for the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
William Boyle ’55, MBA ’56, has given a significant gift to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to support renovations to the Plant Science Building – the largest gift so far to the current college campaign.
The gift from philanthropist Tom Secunda, co-founder of Bloomberg L.P., will help fund artificial intelligence-related research at Cornell Tech in New York City and at the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science in Ithaca.
In December 2017, Richard Onyejuruwa from the university admissions office hosted an information session about Cornell for prospective students in New York City. Although she was still in middle school, Vianny was all ears. She liked his description of the Dyson School—which he said has a small school vibe within the larger university. Richard, Cornell’s … Read the full story
A $13 million endowment from the Dimond family will fund scholarships at the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, as part of the university’s “To Do the Greatest Good” campaign.
In fall 2024, the Cornell Club of Colorado (CCoC) renamed its scholarship in honor of Keo Latel Frazier ’00, the regional club’s former president, who died on June 10, 2024. “We wanted to do our part to carry on Keo’s formidable legacy by ensuring a Cornell education remains accessible to all deserving Coloradans,” says Makenna … Read the full story
Former varsity punter and Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson ’99 established an endowed scholarship in honor of his father—George Albert Watson.
When Brendan Kosztyo ’25 was a first-year biological sciences student at Cornell, the pressure of a particularly demanding course was overwhelming. He recalls thinking: “Oh my gosh, there are so many things we have to do. Is it going to get done in time?” Someone told him about the department’s Student Advisors Program, which matches … Read the full story
Cornell clubs are raising awareness and dollars for access and affordability.
An $11.5 million gift from entrepreneur C. Kenneth Grailer ’53 will support the Nolan School of Hotel Administration by expanding the Center for Hospitality Research, helping renovate the Grailer Food Labs and providing scholarships.
David Legrand ’23 discovered his passion for art serendipitously when, at the age of 21, he enrolled in HUEH (part of the State University of Haiti) as a sociology major. David recalls doodling during lectures. He drew his classmates’ faces and hands, his professors, and whatever captured his roving attention. “I don’t remember what the … Read the full story
A gift totaling $25 million from Irwin M. Jacobs ’54, BEE ’56 and the Jacobs family includes a new $15 million commitment, adding to a $10 million commitment in 2023 that helped establish the center.
The Ceriale Center for Cornell Health will be named in recognition of the major gift from Cornellian parents John and Melissa Ceriale.
Yahlin Chang ’89 was born in Taipei. When she was a young child, her father moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to join his extended family. He was a chef and worked in a Chinese restaurant owned by a family friend. Once their father was financially secure, Yahlin and her sister joined their father in Williamsport. It … Read the full story
Mursal Rahim MPA '25 is an Afghan scholar in the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy
An alumnae-led fundraising initiative in Cornell Human Ecology (CHE) has achieved a milestone, increasing the number of endowed undergraduate scholarships from women donors to 100.
John McMullen never attended Cornell—or any university, for that matter. But when he died in 1921, the dredging magnate left the bulk of his estate to fund engineering scholarships. Over the past 100 years, more than 4,000 Cornellians have benefited from his gift. McMullen scholars have broadened engineering’s impact on society to a degree that … Read the full story
Since its inception 18 years ago, the Jacobs Scholarships and Fellowships in Engineering have fueled the educations and aspirations of more than 500 Cornell Engineering students—through nearly 1,300 awards. Established in 2006 with a $30 million commitment to endow scholarships and fellowships in Cornell’s College of Engineering, the Irwin M. and Joan K. Jacobs Scholars … Read the full story
According to Alison Smith, director of development at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, between 65-70% of veterinary students apply for financial aid. The average aid they receive is about $10,000 per year, while the annual cost of attendance (tuition plus other expenses) is currently $78,000. So, financial aid only covers about 13% of … Read the full story
When Henry W. Sage endowed funds for a professorship in 1885, he likely didn’t imagine how his gift would transform over the next 140 years. Sage, who chaired the Cornell University Board of Trustees from 1875-97, is believed to have established the university’s first named and endowed professorship. Named in memory of his wife, the … Read the full story
The Cornell Club of Puerto Rico raised over $42,000 for their scholarship fund on Giving Day 2024
The lakeview gallery is an iconic space on the Cornell campus, located high above Cayuga’s waters on the 5th floor of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. The gallery affords a sweeping view of the Ithaca landscape as it changes over the course of the day and the seasons. Nearly every one of the … Read the full story
In just over 24 hours, Cornell’s 10th Giving Day rallied 18,692 donors to contribute to causes they care about on March 14, 2024.
Read the full story by Kathy Hovis. A new $500,000 alumni gift to the Asian American Studies Program (AASP) in the College of Arts and Sciences will allow the program to increase the number of special events and speakers it brings to campus and provides support for an ongoing oral history project, which connects current … Read the full story
Read the full story by Syl Kacapyr in the Cornell Chronicle. A newly endowed professorship at Cornell, made possible with a multimillion-dollar gift from George Stephen Irwin ’67, M.Eng. ’68, is dedicated to engineering education research. The gift establishes the Dr. G. Stephen Irwin ’67, ’68 Professorship in Engineering Education Research in the Smith School … Read the full story
Dr. Pamela Brown ’73 establishes an affordability scholarship to honor two Human Ecology professors—Professors Marjorie Devine and Jerry Rivers.
Professor Steven Strogatz relishes the challenge of making math more palatable to everyone. Much like Music 101 or Art 101, he envisions Math 101—a broadly engaging approach to share the value of mathematical thinking with every person.
Professor Saurabh Mehta works to deliver game-changing science and technologies over the ‘last mile’ to end users. He does this both by advising guideline-setting agencies and by serving community members directly.
Professor Jessica Chen Weiss is often asked to share her deep knowledge of China with stakeholders at the highest echelons of the public and private sectors—including government, business, the media, and academia.
Launched in fiscal year 2023, this optional, university-wide program makes the cost of educational materials more predictable for students and families.
Cornell grads representing class years across seven decades establish new scholarships, bolstering Cornell’s Undergraduate Affordability Initiative.
The Cornell Club of Oregon and Southwest Washington (CCORSW) established a scholarship in 1980 to help students from Oregon meet the costs of higher education. Over the past 43 years, the CCORSW scholarship has grown to a market value of $3 million, the largest endowment of any Cornell Club in the country. The payout from … Read the full story
Kathy Delsanter ’63, MS ’65 is among more than 50 Cornell alumni—representing class years that span seven decades—who established or significantly enhanced new affordability scholarships in fiscal year 2023.
The College of Human Ecology has received a $10 million commitment from Joan Klein Jacobs ’54 and Irwin M. Jacobs ’54, BEE ’56 to support the college’s new Center for Precision Nutrition and Health.
Michael A. Bonarti ’87 and Judith Germano '91 are among more than 50 Cornell alumni—representing class years that span seven decades—who established or significantly enhanced new affordability scholarships in fiscal year 2023.
Cornell’s endowment achieved a 3.6% return in the fiscal year ending June 30, concluding the year valued at just over $10 billion, the Office of University Investments reported.
Tanni Wu '06 is among more than 50 Cornell alumni—representing class years that span seven decades—who established or significantly enhanced new affordability scholarships in fiscal year 2023.
A new $13.5M gift will fund a new 15,000-square-foot design makerspace on the Ithaca campus, a 2,500-square-foot design studio in Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, and a new scholarship fund for Human Ecology undergraduates in the Department of Human Centered Design.
Mark Cisz ’91 and Linda Moerck-Cisz ’91, P ’21, P ’22, P ’27 are Cornell parents from Northport, New York. Their son, Bryan ’21, graduated from the College of Engineering; their daughter Kaitlyn ’22, graduated from the College of Human Ecology; and their son, Stephen ’27, is a first-year student in the Jeb E. Brooks … Read the full story
After amassing a great fortune from his work in the telegraph industry, Ezra Cornell was determined to do the greatest possible good for humanity.
Before the New York State Legislature would charter “the first American university” in 1865, Ezra Cornell had to defend his vision.
In August 2021, Sharifa Sharifi was working as general manager of the Afghan National Gallery in Herat, Afghanistan’s third largest city, when the government collapsed and the Taliban took control of her country. As an employee of the fallen government, a professional woman, an outspoken advocate for women’s rights, and an artist whose paintings celebrated … Read the full story
Lauren Pappas ’23 transferred to Cornell in fall 2021. In spring 2022, she received an email from the Senior Class Campaign (SCC) asking for volunteers for the coming year. Not knowing much about the SCC, she checked out the website. What she learned motivated her to step up. “I learned that annual fund donations go … Read the full story
From shifting weather patterns that alter food availability to rising sea levels that displace homes and families, climate change is impacting communities and ecosystems all over the world at an unprecedented scale. In 2022 Cornell University launched The 2030 Project: A Cornell Climate Initiative, to tackle problems like these—bringing together the full breadth of Cornell’s … Read the full story
Cornell’s ninth Giving Day brought together 18,296 donors to raise more than $13 million in just 24 hours, shattering records from previous years.
Last fall, in honor of his upcoming 20th Reunion, Alan Zhou ’03 took advantage of Cornell’s affordability challenge and made a gift to establish the Alan and Chelsea Zhou Family Scholarship. The fund will provide financial assistance to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need, with a preference for students from the states of Maine, Oklahoma, … Read the full story
The Cornell Women's Leadership Challenge aims to inspire 600 donors to give $1,000 or more to annual funds on Giving Day.
A $5 million gift honoring Mabel “Mibs” Martin Follett ’51 establishes the Mibs Martin Follett Professor in Human Ecology.
No matter what your generosity looks like, it matters. It helps Cornell do the greatest good by reaching students in need of support and research that helps communities all over the world. And your contribution strengthens the university’s legacy as a source of solutions for our time, and for all time. Ever wonder why Cornell … Read the full story
Since they were young, Inhee Rebecca “Becky” Lee ’02 recalls following her older sister, Jinhee Michell Lee ’01, around. Wanting to do everything Michell did was part of Becky’s initial motivation for applying to Cornell. In her senior year of high school, Michell applied to and was accepted by the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell (now … Read the full story
Read the full article by Tom Fleischman in the Cornell Chronicle. Cornell’s new baseball stadium, at the corner of Ellis Hollow and Game Farm roads, will be called Booth Field, honoring Richard L. “Rich” Booth ’82 for his extraordinary leadership and generosity – much of it anonymous – over the last four decades. The Cornell … Read the full story
Thousands—united by a shared purpose—supported undergraduate scholarships through annual fund giving in 2022.
For Adam Shelepak ’17, financial aid afforded the possibility of meaningful exploration and service to the Cornell community.
A gift from Mark DeAngelis ’91, MPA ’92 and Carmen Molinos ’94 will establish three endowed undergraduate scholarship funds intended to support first-generation students in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, the College of Human Ecology, and the ILR School. Their gift will also establish an endowed graduate scholarship fund to support … Read the full story
Doing the greatest good for student access. Learn how a group of alumni enhanced their Reunion giving with Cornell's affordability challenge match program.
Jonathan Poe ’82 and Anne Vitullo ’77 bolstered their Reunion-year giving through the university’s affordability challenge match program.
A competitive financial aid package, in combination with an undergraduate business degree program and a breadth of opportunities to explore technology and sustainability, attracted Jennifer Gammond ’15 to Cornell.
Anwar Kashem '02, MEng '04 wants to help future Cornellians. That’s why he celebrated his 20th Reunion with a challenge match gift to support Cornell’s undergraduate affordability initiative.
Inspired by Cornell’s undergraduate affordability initiative, Susan H. Murphy ’73, PhD ’94 is ensuring that her 50th Reunion gifts go even further by leveraging the university’s challenge match program.
Ever since she was a teenager, Efe Airewele ’20 dreamed of studying public health. A competitive financial aid package helped convince Airewele to bring her talents and passions to Cornell University
A $5 million gift from Irene Rosenfeld ’75, MS ’77, PhD ’80 and Richard Illgen will establish the Rosenfeld/Illgen Scholarship and support the university’s efforts to make Cornell even more affordable for students from all backgrounds. This gift, Irene says, aligns perfectly with the couple’s passion for education. “Cornell played a key role in shaping … Read the full story
Read the full story by Syl Kacapyr in the Cornell Chronicle. As he accepted his Distinguished Alumni Award from Cornell Engineering on May 13, Robert F. Smith ’85, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, announced a new gift of $15 million for engineering student aid, with a focus on assisting undergraduate students who come … Read the full story
Read the full story by Kathy Hovis in the Cornell Chronicle. A $10 million gift from Robert S. Harrison ’76 will enhance the College Scholar Program in the College of Arts and Sciences and support undergraduate scholarships. Harrison, chair of the Cornell Board of Trustees and former CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative, was a … Read the full story
Read the full story by James Dean in the Cornell Chronicle. A foundational gift has endowed and named the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP), advancing research, teaching and partnerships dedicated to fostering more sustainable and just cities. The largest single gift to AAP to date, … Read the full story
Thousands of donors participated in the eighth Cornell Giving Day on March 16. Throughout the day, 15,905 alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends from over 80 countries made gifts totaling a record-breaking $12,268,629. “The thousands of gifts made on Giving Day will help Cornell continue to do the greatest good for our students, and … Read the full story
Read the full story by Syl Kacapyr in the Cornell Chronicle. A $10 million gift from David W. Meehl ’72, MBA ’74 will grow the roster of faculty, students and equipment needed to study the mysterious behavior of matter at atomic and subatomic scales, strengthening the university’s position as a leader in quantum science and … Read the full story
A recent gift from Cornell’s Chi Chapter of Delta Gamma will create an annual speaker series for the Cornell Women’s Resource Center, and provide funding for the series in perpetuity. The Women’s Resource Center, a welcoming and inclusive space on campus, has a mission to support both the personal and educational pursuits of women-identified students. … Read the full story
As part of Cornell’s To Do the Greatest Good campaign, the university launched an initiative to make a Cornell education even more affordable for talented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The university has committed $50 million to match undergraduate affordability endowment gifts of at least $250,000, or gifts of $150,000 or more from alumni who … Read the full story
Read the full story by Janice Endresen from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. A historic $15 million gift from Joanne Knight in honor of her late husband, Charles “Chuck” Field Knight ’57, BME ’58, MBA ’59, has established the Charles Field Knight Deanship of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and provides … Read the full story
Read the full story by Pat Leonard in the Cornell Chronicle. A new $1.5 million gift from philanthropist K. Lisa Yang ’74 has established the Christopher W. Clark Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation Bioacoustics in honor of Clark, the retired director of the bioacoustics program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The announcement of the new … Read the full story
Read the full story by Kathy Hovis in the Cornell Chronicle. A $5 million alumni gift will help to support doctoral students in humanities fields within the College of Arts and Sciences. The Zhu Family Graduate Fellowships in the Humanities will recognize and support a select group of high-potential graduate students in their fourth or … Read the full story
Read the full story by Krisy Gashler from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. When Roy and then Miki Tsujimoto emigrated from Japan to the United States in the 1910s, they believed in the American dream, and they knew they would have to work twice as hard as nonimmigrants to attain it. But that … Read the full story
Read the full story by Krishna Ramanujan in the Cornell Chronicle. A $30 million gift from Margaret and Richard Riney has endowed and named the Cornell Margaret and Richard Riney Canine Health Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine to improve the health and well-being of dogs through world-class research, outreach and engagement with dog … Read the full story
The late professor Raymond T. Fox ’47, MS ’52, PhD ’56, renowned for his floral displays at Cornell events, devoted more than 50 years to floriculture teaching and outreach. Now, a bequest of approximately $2 million from his estate will enrich the educational experiences of future students in the plant sciences. The Raymond and Vera … Read the full story
Seventeen student and alumni groups are participating in a month-long crowdfunding campaign, raising funds to support a range of exciting projects. Since 2013, crowdfunding has helped raised $2.2 million for student projects. From building a radio-controlled aircraft to safely deliver vaccine components, to supporting Cornell Law students and graduates entering public service, this year’s projects … Read the full story
A $1.8 million gift from Gail and Roberto Cañizares ’71, MBA ’74, will provide substantial support to the Emerging Markets Institute (EMI) at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. The gift augments the Gail and Roberto Cañizares Director for the Emerging Markets Institute fund, which the couple established with a $1.5 million gift in … Read the full story
Cornell has a long history of supporting student veterans. About 90 current undergraduate students are veterans, and about 400 veterans, active members of the military, or the dependents of a veteran or active military member study at or work for the university. These students are an important part of the Cornell community and have unique … Read the full story
Kevin Jacobs ’94 knows firsthand just how important, how life-changing, financial aid can be. “My wife (Amanda ’94) and I both received a lot of financial aid in going to Cornell – otherwise, a Cornell education wouldn’t have been possible for either of us,” said Jacobs, a graduate of the newly named Cornell Peter and … Read the full story
A significant gift from Judith Stoikov ’63 will endow the Judith H. Stoikov Curator of Asian Art position and establish the largest endowed curatorial fund at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. The new position will expand the museum’s teaching and research capabilities for generations. “By endowing this position, I take comfort in knowing … Read the full story
Will Yoon ’01 and Renee Choi ’06 believe in the power of education—and the power of giving back. The couple recently established the Eliana Kim & Choi Family Memorial Scholarship with a gift of $100,000 to support current students. “Whatever we’ve gone on to achieve,” Will says, “Cornell has been a part of that. Giving … Read the full story
A historic $50 million gift from Peter Nolan ’80, MBA ’82, and Stephanie Nolan ’84, announced at a campus event Sept. 17, will establish the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration and provide scholarship funding to expand educational access for future generations of hospitality business leaders. The gift will support financial aid … Read the full story
Established in 2021 by the Hon. Christy C. Wiegand ’00 and her husband, John F. (Jay) Hammond ’00, the Hon. Christy C. Wiegand Government Service Scholarship will be awarded annually to a 2L or 3L student who pursues government service legal work during law school, with aspirations to continue doing so post-graduation. Judge Wiegand credits her meaningful experience … Read the full story
Gifts totaling $10 million – $5 million from Steve Conine ’95 and his wife Alexi Conine ’96, and $5 million from Niraj Shah ’95 and his wife Jill Shah – will support the construction of a leading-edge new building for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. The combined gift, led … Read the full story
At the start of his third year at Cornell Law, Cyril Heron, JD, LLM ’19, was at the crossroads of passion and practicality. He was passionate about public service, but burdened by student loans. Most of his classmates were headed toward big law firms and big salaries. Heron was able to take the road less … Read the full story
Americans have become keenly aware of how the law affects every aspect of our lives, from criminal justice to environmental protection, from housing law to voting rights. We’re also more cognizant than ever that a citizen’s socioeconomic status can be a determining factor in whether rights are protected and laws are applied equitably in our … Read the full story
Joe Calabrese JD ’81, grew up in Paterson, N.J., where his father ran a small business. He noticed that when his father—a first-generation Italian immigrant with an eighth-grade education—had a problem, he always turned to his lawyer for help. “I saw lawyering as a high calling,” Calabrese recalls. “Lawyers were people who were called upon … Read the full story
David and Pauline Musto P ’20, P ’23 are Cornell parents from Fairfield County, Connecticut. Their son, Ryan ’20, graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences and their daughter, Meghan ’23, is a current student in the College of Human Ecology. Though not alumni themselves, David and Pauline have been dedicated volunteers for the … Read the full story
More than 66,000 donors to Cornell gave a record-breaking $839 million in new gifts and commitments to the university in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Gifts came in from almost 44,000 alumni and students, plus parents, staff, faculty, and friends, and supported over 2,300 separate areas of the university. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the … Read the full story
A major gift will endow and name the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, advancing the nascent school’s long-term mission to help solve complex global policy challenges, from inequality to sustainability. The gift from Jeb E. Brooks MBA ’70 – an advocate for socially responsible investment whose late father taught at Cornell and … Read the full story
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s groundbreaking Center for Conservation Bioacoustics will begin a new era of innovation thanks to a major gift from the philanthropist and Lab Advisory Board member K. Lisa Yang ’74. The $24 million gift, announced June 4 at the Cornell Lab’s spring board meeting, is the largest onetime gift in the … Read the full story
An anonymous gift of $1.5 million to support Cornell AgriTech research will improve grapevine health, quality, yields and profitability in New York state’s wine and grape industry through the creation of an endowed graduate student research fellowship program. The wine industry in New York state – from grape growing to bottle sales – generates $6.65 … Read the full story
Cornell was founded on the principle of “… any person … any study,” and today more than ever, that means celebrating students of all lived experiences and identities—including undocumented students. “We’ve taken on a responsibility to make sure all of our students, regardless of their identities, are able to take advantage of the richness of … Read the full story
“What do we picture when we think of an engineer?” asks Karina Popovich ’23. Karina is working with her peers to redefine preexisting notions about who belongs in STEM fields and transform the faces of tech and science to include more women. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of women in … Read the full story
Since 2018, Kapil Longani ’97 has served as chief counsel to New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio. Since the start of the pandemic, Longani has helped shape the city’s plans for reopening schools, creating outdoor dining protocols, and thinking through legal issues around COVID testing and vaccine distribution. “Every significant or sensitive legal issue … Read the full story
In 24 hours, 14,411 donors raised a record-breaking $10,040,921 to support Cornell students, programs, and research on the university’s seventh Giving Day, March 11. Gifts poured in steadily throughout the day, with support from all 50 U.S. states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., as well as nearly 80 countries around the world. “We’re so … Read the full story
A $30 million commitment from David R. Atkinson ’60 and Patricia Atkinson will name a new multidisciplinary building on campus, intended to foster innovative and collaborative research in priority areas of sustainability, public health, cancer biology, immunology and computational biology. Atkinson Hall, to be built on Tower Road adjacent to Rice and Bruckner halls, will … Read the full story
Throughout his Cornell career, Dustin Liu ’19 was deeply involved with the community-engaged learning initiative (CEL)—a university-wide effort to involve every Cornell student in learning with and from communities. Dustin says that his engagement with the larger Ithaca community started from the moment he first set foot on the Cornell campus to take part in … Read the full story
Cornell will celebrate its seventh Giving Day on March 11, 2021. The 24-hour campaign will bring together Cornellians near and far to show their support for the university and enjoy competing in friendly challenges, a trivia night, and more. Last year’s Giving Day was one for the record books, bringing in $7,053,386 from 10,145 donors. … Read the full story
Olivia Adams ’14, MEng ’15 saw a problem: people in Massachusetts were having a difficult time signing up for COVID-19 vaccine appointments. So, she built a solution. Adams created the website macovidvaccines.com to make it easier for MA residents to find and book appointments. The website compiles appointment availability from vaccination sites across the state, … Read the full story
As the pandemic continues to surge this winter, the Cornell community has banded together to support students whose families have been impacted. On April 7, 2020, President Martha E. Pollack promised that “we will do everything possible to enable all current and newly admitted students to complete their Cornell educations, despite the obstacles created by … Read the full story
As part of her work with the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove ’99 provides regular updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and routinely answers common questions about the virus for members of the press. On January 26, she shared her expert insights with members of the Cornell community. Dr. Van Kerkhove shared her … Read the full story
For years, volunteers with the Cornell Club of Ithaca have been supporting the local community. From hosting club events at area restaurants to support small business owners, to donating 400 pairs of socks to a homeless shelter last January, members do their part to give back to the Ithaca community. Typically, club members participate in … Read the full story
When Phil Yuen ’00 heard Cornell was reopening for in-person learning this fall, he saw an opportunity to partner with the university to help make campus safer. His company, Aurabeat Technology in Hong Kong, has developed an air filtration system that can eliminate 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from the air indoors. … Read the full story
Every fall, we reach out to the Cornell community to spotlight giving opportunities that directly benefit Cornell students. The 8th annual Cornell Crowdfunding campaign officially kicked off on October 12, and will include a total of 16 student-driven projects and one special scholarship challenge. From now through December 5, these crowdfunding projects have the chance … Read the full story
Alumni, parents, and friends came together to support Cornell students and stay connected during fiscal year 2020 despite numerous challenging factors, including a global pandemic and economic crisis. The university received $712 million in new gifts and commitments—the third-highest total ever raised at Cornell in a single year—from over 39,000 alumni and student donors. This … Read the full story
Members of the Class of 1955 recently celebrated their 65th Reunion. These octogenarians have also been steadfast supporters of Cornell Health. In 2015, the Class of 1955 and Peter Schluter ’55 gave a $100,000 gift to name a room in the new Cornell Health facility. In July 2020, the class responded to the call again, … Read the full story
A $5 million gift from David A. Duffield ’62, MBA ’64, to the College of Engineering has established the Duffield Family Cornell Promise Scholarship, providing financial assistance to undergraduate engineering students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The gift is the largest single contribution to the Cornell Promise initiative, which upholds Cornell’s founding commitment of … Read the full story
A $1 million gift from Robert ’92 and Carola Jain to the College of Arts and Sciences will support Black A&S students with demonstrated need, and others who enhance Cornell’s diversity, equity and inclusion. The Robert ’92 and Carola Jain Cornell Promise Scholarship meets a critical need at a moment when the COVID-19 pandemic has … Read the full story
With a steady 6,000+ student participants each year, few other university programs touch as many students as Cornell Outdoor Education (COE). Founded in 1972, COE has recorded more than 200,000 enrollments over nearly five decades. COE offers over 130 separate courses taught by 200 student instructors and 11 full-time staff members, and includes physical facilities … Read the full story
Dyson alumni have stepped up in the last year with scholarships and emergency funding to provide access to Dyson and the best possible student experience once here. Current-use funds have helped many through the 2019-2020 academic year, ensuring that “inability to pay isn’t a barrier to participation,” says Tim Oonk ’86, executive director of Alumni … Read the full story
Elizabeth “Betty” Miller Francis ’47 touched many lives and organizations through her philanthropy and passion for travel, the outdoors, and art. With her giving, she supported galleries and music, ecological research, and natural habitats for zoo animals.
Lynn Weidberg Morgan ’89 never misses an opportunity to strengthen her Cornell connections. A volunteer for her class, a board of trustees member for Cornell Hillel and a loyal donor, Lynn gives back in more ways than one and inspires others to do the same. The pins she collects serve as a visual reminder of … Read the full story
Cornell Tech has announced a $1 million grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies to jumpstart its Public Interest Tech (PiTech) initiative. PiTech will be geared toward developing the tools, systems, data sets, research, and education needed to address significant public sector concerns. The gift will help Cornell Tech create the foundational infrastructure for the PiTech initiative, … Read the full story
In early 2020, L. William Kay II ’51 passed away from COVID-19 related complications at age 93. Bill Kay’s Cornell involvement deeply embraced the university; spanned across time, generations, and programs; expressed trust in university leadership; and inspired other Cornellians to give and to volunteer. He was a stalwart volunteer for the Class of 1951 … Read the full story
Raven Schwam-Curtis ’20 had seen the coronavirus coming: She visited China and South Korea on a research trip over winter break, when the first cases were being reported there. But she was still confronted with financial and emotional disruption when the pandemic forced Cornell to abruptly suspend classes in mid-March and switch to remote learning … Read the full story
Cornell’s Asian & Asian American Center (A3C) is a second campus home for thousands of students each year. From programming that celebrates the importance of Asian cultures to a space for students to explore their identities, the center offers a strong sense of community and family. Nancy Martinsen, the Kent G. Sheng ’78 Associate Dean … Read the full story
Ben Steeper arrived in Ithaca from Hawai‘i on a freezing day in January 2016, dressed in slippers and a t-shirt. Ben had long dreamed about attending an elite university like Cornell, where he hoped to be surrounded by “influential, creative people.” He is the first person in his family to attend an Ivy League school. … Read the full story
With $7,053,386 raised from 10,145 donors in just 24 hours, Cornell Giving Day brought Cornell community members together from all over the world to join in giving. “Philanthropy has been essential to Cornell’s success since 1865,” said Fred Van Sickle, vice president for Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD). “Giving Day is a unique opportunity for … Read the full story
March 12, 2020, will mark Cornell University’s sixth Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraising celebration in which Cornellians come together to support the areas they care most deeply about and to engage in some friendly competition. Last year, colleges and units participated in a “Raise the Bar” challenge, competing against themselves to increase their number of … Read the full story
David Strip ’77, PhD ’78 has lived in his adopted home of New Mexico for more than 40 years. Strip came to Cornell for graduate school, to study operations research (OR). “At the time, and to this day,” he says, “Cornell had one of the top-ranked, if not the top-ranked, OR department in the country.” … Read the full story
Alejandra Rebeca Gonzalez ’23 was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and raised in Michigan. Her family moved to the US when she was five years old in search of “a safer life” and better opportunities for education, she explains. Gonzalez is a first-year student in the College of Human Ecology (CHE). She is also … Read the full story
Umran Mustafa ’22 was born and raised in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Dhaka is home to more than 20 million people. According to Umran, the city is rapidly growing, as “flocks of people from all over the country arrive every day, hoping to find a better life.” He explains that a common saying … Read the full story
From November 4 through December 3, student groups will have the chance to reach out directly to their supporters via the 2019 Cornell Crowdfunding campaign. Crowdfunding, launched in 2013, has helped to raise more than $1.3 million in donations for Cornell student groups, who might otherwise struggle to make their projects visible. Anyone can contribute … Read the full story
On October 21, alumni, coaches, and the team’s current players will try to raise a full year of annual fund support in one day. The sprint is part of a move of all Athletics team phonathons—previously held in early winter—to the fall semester.
To support summer stipends for students pursuing entrepreneurial ventures, Stephen Smith ’91, MBA ’95—a successful entrepreneur—established a new endowment this year. The Professor Vrinda Kadiyali Student Entrepreneur Fund ties into a new entrepreneurship track for 2-year residential MBA students at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, available to first-year students in fall 2019. … Read the full story
Alumni, parents, and friends gave to Cornell in significant amounts during fiscal year 2019, including surpassing an Annual Funds record set just 12 months earlier. The university received more than $550 million in new gifts and commitments in FY19, including $340 million raised for the Ithaca and Cornell Tech campuses and $210 million for Weill … Read the full story
The focus of the Senior Class Campaign (SCC) is on engaging as many seniors as possible in the tradition of giving. “Our message to seniors is, ‘Hey everyone, there is something at Cornell that you love,’” says Kendra Saldana ’12, assistant director of Young Alumni Giving at Cornell and staff advisor to the SCC student team. “The … Read the full story
Bailee Hopkins-Hensley is passionate about exploring the connections that humans have to plants—especially the connections that indigenous communities have to the species that sustain them. She earned a BS in plant science in 2018 and an MPS in public garden leadership in 2019, but her interest in plants started many years earlier, when she was … Read the full story
Julio Casado ’08 lived in the Latino Living Center his second year at Cornell. The LLC, as it is known, was a comfortable place where he made friends and had relevant conversations: “It felt like a place I could call home,” he says. The residence also expanded his understanding of Latino identity, he says, to … Read the full story
Alumni philanthropists took a break from the rigors of Reunion Saturday at the Tower Club Hospitality Suite in the Park Atrium at the Beck Center in Statler Hall. “The Hospitality Suite is our chance to give a special thank you to alumni in returning classes and locally who are members of the Tower Club or … Read the full story
Sofia Boucher '19 is the recipient of the R. Worrell I and C. Wright Scholarship from the ILR School, as well as a Pell Grant, NYS Tap Grant, and a Cornell grant.
Someday I want to occupy your chair Costa Androulakis knew from a young age what profession he wanted to pursue. He got his first job in a restaurant at the age of 12 and has worked in the hospitality industry ever since. His journey from humble beginnings in Crete to consummate hotelier was fueled by … Read the full story
When the Cornell Family Fellows Program hosted its spring weekend March 9-10 there was one slightly unexpected outcome. “The parents talked about math the whole weekend!” said Mindy Stevenson, assistant director of Parent Engagement in the division of Alumni Affairs and Development. So it goes after an engaging discussion on the joy of math with … Read the full story
Bryan Scanapieco, a first-generation student in the College of Arts and Sciences, began his Cornell career intending to study physics. His high school physics teacher inspired him to enroll in physics for three of his four years of high school. He also encouraged Bryan to apply to top-tier schools, including Cornell. Scanapieco’s mother moved to … Read the full story
Mathematician Narahari Umanath Prabhu was teaching in Australia in the early 1960s, when he wrote the book Stochastic Processes: Basic Theory and Its Applications. The publisher sent Prabhu’s book manuscript to a referee to review, and the review was so glowing that Prabhu asked to learn the name of the referee. The referee was Frank … Read the full story
A parent of a current ILR student explores her own Cornell interests. When Joan Spiegel, a Cornell parent, saw the image of the big, white cat, funding fieldwork aimed at conserving snow leopards suddenly seemed a compelling and appropriate thing to do. She learned about Wildlife Health Cornell and the work of Martin Gilbert, senior … Read the full story
Giving Day 2019 recorded the highest number of gifts received on any day in Cornell history.
A big part of Cornell Giving Day is the friendly competition. On Giving Day 2019, March 14, the challenges were hot—right down to the wire thanks to a new Raise the Bar Challenge. With one minute remaining, at 11:59 p.m., the School of Industrial and Labor Relations surpassed its donor total from 2018, ensuring that … Read the full story
Jeffrey Yen’s interest in the natural world began when he was a kid living in Taiwan. He was fascinated by the abundance of insects in Taiwan’s sub-tropical climate, and he remembers browsing through the nature books at a local research institute with his father. “One day, I picked up a publication that portrayed some of … Read the full story
The countdown to Giving Day 2019 is underway. On March 14, the Cornell community across the world will come together for a 24-hour celebration of support for all things Cornell. It will be the university’s fifth annual day of giving. “Giving Day is very meaningful for Cornell,” said Fred Van Sickle, vice president for Alumni … Read the full story
Veronica Perez ’19 discovered the connective power of radio when, as a sophomore, she pulled the Thanksgiving Day shift as a DJ at WVBR FM, Cornell’s Collegetown-based radio station. “Throughout the day, I received calls from listeners who shared their memories of tuning into WVBR on Thanksgiving and expressed their fondness for Adam Sandler’s ‘Turkey … Read the full story
Cornell student and campus projects turned to friends, family, and communities during a month-long crowdfunding campaign in November.
The Irene and Morris B. Kessler Presidential Scholars Program, established at Cornell by Fred and Judy Wilpon, will benefit first-generation students.
Cornell is in the top ten among The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s new list of America’s Favorite Charities. Published on Oct. 30, the ranking identifies the organizations that Americans are most willing to support. Cornell, at #9, joins respected non-profits (including United Way Worldwide and the Salvation Army) and other universities (including Harvard and Stanford) in … Read the full story
Student-driven Cornell crowdfunding projects depend on the power of joining together to fund their goals during a month-long campaign in November. Live on the crowdfunding site this year are projects ranging from engineering competitions to a capella recordings, from professional development retreats for women of color to a scholarship for military veterans. There’s also an … Read the full story
Studied by scholars of English and American political thought and by Cornell students in particular, Isaac Kramnick’s books form a sizable collection on the shelves of Cornell University Library. Now, through a tribute by Elisabeth Boas and Art Spitzer—both from the Class of ’71—his name has been emblazoned on a prominent place surrounded by books … Read the full story
The new Martin Y. Tang Welcome Center, located in the renovated Noyes Lodge overlooking Beebe Lake, was officially dedicated September 14 during a festive ceremony befitting Cornell’s new “front door.” In a nod to the building’s mid-20th-century existence as The Pancake House, appetizers served at the center’s opening ceremony drew on classic menu items and … Read the full story
Alumni, parents, and friends gave to Cornell in significant amounts during fiscal year 2018, setting fundraising records and engaging with the university in many other ways. By volunteering, giving financial support, and staying connected online, Cornellians made July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018, one of the most successful years ever for philanthropy and participation. The university … Read the full story
With endowment gifts, Frederic Rubinstein ’52, LLB ’55 invests in Cornell to make a difference in society.
Cornell alumni, parents, and friends gave a total of nearly $22 million in endowed scholarships to boost the university’s financial aid and strengthen its commitment to “… any person … any study.”
The scholarships created early last year as part of the recently completed endowed scholarship challenge are already benefiting several students. For two of them, in particular, the scholarships came at crucial times.
A scholarship from the Cornell Club of Oregon—together with other financial aid—helped to open opportunities in agricultural education for Conor McCabe '18.
Scholarships from generous donors make it possible for Sofia Villacreses '19 to reach higher in her education—at Cornell—than she’d thought possible.
A lifelong fundraiser shares her story of matchmaking Cornellian philanthropists with opportunities to make a difference for the university.
On March 20, the first day of spring, the university set several one-day fundraising records on the fourth Cornell Giving Day. In 24 hours, 11,750 donors gave 15,807 gifts, raising $7,827,834 for the university’s colleges, units, departments and programs – the highest number of donors and gifts for one day in university history. “Spring arrived … Read the full story
Receiving the John E. and Elaine Meed Alexander Scholarship motivates Kylie Long '19 to excel in her two majors, biology and philosophy.
She played many roles, on and off the stage, for the university community. She leaves behind a legacy of service, generosity, and good humor at Cornell.
Christine Jasmin ’18 says the Constance A. Wheary and Joy Youtz Scholarship, given to first-generation students from New York City, gives her the time and freedom to explore the broad educational offerings that drew her to Cornell.
When Rod and Karen Gancas, together with their children Robyn ’08 and Jonathan ’14, looked for causes to support as a family, Cornell scholarship was at the top of the list. Their new endowed scholarship will be awarded to a student at the School of Hotel Administration in fall 2018.
A dozen student-led projects and events have received a funding boost.
Cornell Tech gets a boost with the Roger and Joelle Burnell Chair in Integrated Health and Technology.
Annual funds support current needs. Endowment funds provide support now and for the future.
Thirteen Cornell projects raised $218,500 from 1,356 gifts during a month-long crowdfunding campaign in November.
A $50 million gift from Tata Consultancy Services establishes the Tata Innovation Center at Cornell Tech.
Managing Cornell’s investment and stewarding its endowment are key to Cornell’s fiscal health and securing its future. In the year and a half since Kenneth Miranda stepped up to lead Cornell’s investment office as chief investment officer, the team has reported strong endowment returns, implemented new investment strategies for 2017, and completed phase one of a move … Read the full story
With their generosity, Cornellians strengthen the university.
A $20 million gift from the Milstein family will launch the new Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity, a collaboration between the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and Cornell Tech that will pioneer a new approach to developing 21st century leaders and innovators. The program bridges two campuses to deliver a unique multidisciplinary curriculum … Read the full story
John P. Neafsey ’61, MEng ’62, MBA ’63 and his wife, Rilla, have endowed the top academic leadership position at Cornell Tech, currently held by Dean and Vice Provost Daniel P. Huttenlocher. “The opportunities for Cornell Tech are boundless, and it has done extraordinarily well in getting underway,” said Neafsey, a retired Sun Co. executive … Read the full story
“Small gifts add up to big impacts for Cornell,” said Chelsea Ghent, Cornell’s student phoning manager. But that’s not the only reason for alumni, parents, and friends to pick up the phone when students call. “The calls put students and alumni and others in touch with one another to share experiences, talk about events on … Read the full story
Just six years after Cornell won the bid to create Cornell Tech in partnership with The Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, the new campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City has opened and was dedicated on September 13. Cornell Tech’s early success and future promise spring not only from the visionary ideas and energy of … Read the full story
One Cornellian's bequest rallied others behind a scholarship challenge .
On Cornell Giving Day 2017, some 8,640 donors gave 12,209 gifts for a total of $6,321,962, surpassing the number of donors and gifts of Cornell's two previous Giving Days, and raising $200,000 more than 2016.
Generations come together to strengthen "... any person ... any study."
“We spent about 15 to 20 minutes with each student, and it went over very well,” said Charlie Chasin P ’15, ’19, a managing director at Morgan Stanley. Chasin connected with students interested in preparing for jobs in business and the financial industry, explaining how recruitment processes work, which courses may be useful, and the … Read the full story
Film and television composer David Lawrence and lyricist Faye Greenberg P '19 support productions in the Department of Performing and Media Arts.
Lindsey Boyd '98 and Gwen Whiting '98, founders of The Laundress, endowed The Laundress and Kay Obendorf Fund for Inspiring Innovation.
After learning more about her situation, ISSO director Brendan O’Brien tapped an emergency-funding reserve to sponsor her for an additional semester. Greatly relieved, Madeira Kliauga was able to continue her studies and later secure funding for her last semester and earn her degree. ISSO completely saved me!” she said—and she hasn’t forgotten the kindness. Earlier … Read the full story
The collective intelligence of honey bees, employment branding in hospitality, and cancer detection through glowing nanoparticles were just some of the subjects explored by parents and families during the Cornell Family Fellows spring weekend visit April 29 – 30. Established in 2012, the Cornell Family Fellows program recognizes parents who make annual gifts to Cornell … Read the full story
On Cornell Giving Day, April 19, 2016, the competition among alumni classes was friendly but fierce, and for a common cause. Twenty-nine classes rallied peers to surpass their participation goals, each unlocking $2,000 in challenge funds.
With special thanks for use of Tokyo time-lapse video by darwinfish105 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0), Cornell campus time-lapse video by Brian Stuckey MBA ’13 (with permission), and European time-lapse video by Mario Dias (CC BY 3.0). Original music composed by Jeremiah Bornfield/Postsound.
Seven Cornell projects received significant support during a one-month crowdfunding campaign that concluded December 5, 2014.
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