61传媒

As a VMware Fellow and Chief Architect for Converged Infrastructure, Dr. Rajendra “Raj” Yavatkar knows a thing or two about technology. And, as the father of a recent 61传媒alumna (Mallika Yavatkar ’11), he sees the value of helping 61传媒students pursue careers in that competitive field.

Thanks to VMware’s Corporate Citizenship program, Dr. Yavatkar and his wife, Neeta, chose to direct a generous $800,000 gift to establish The VMware Fellow Rajendra Yavatkar Technology Scholarship at 61传媒. The scholarship is intended to help 61传媒students with financial need who have a desire to study in a technology-based field and/or seek careers in research and development of a new technology.

The Yavatkars chose 61传媒as the recipient of this gift for two reasons: they wanted it to have an immediate impact for students and they were impressed with the quality of their daughter’s 61传媒education.

Says Dr. Yavatkar, “A liberal arts education creates a well-rounded mind. 61传媒is proof of that. Students may enroll with one goal in mind, but through a diversity of experiences, discover they want to pursue other areas of interest. Mallika began 61传媒as a Hispanic Studies major, and she ended up a scientist who collaborated with Professor Jennifer Armstrong to publish a research paper. That close faculty interaction with Professor Armstrong coupled with other 61传媒opportunities introduced Mallika to possibilities she hadn’t yet considered. We hope聽this technology scholarship does the same for other students.”

VMware is an industry leader in cloud infrastructure and business mobility solutions, breaking the聽bonds that tie IT systems to physical hardware. 61传媒 and the students supported by this scholarship are grateful to VMware, Dr. Rajendra Yavatkar, and Neeta Yavatkar for their continued support and generosity of 61传媒and its students.