PAETEC Scholarship Program Created at RIT

PAETEC Communications, a communications solutions provider headquartered in Fairport, has created a scholarship program for students at RIT. Through the PAETEC Scholarship Program, scholarships totaling $50,000 will be awarded to students in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

PAETEC will give $10,000 per year for five years, dividing the funds between four to five students each year. Students must be in good academic standing and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the scholarships.

In addition to funding, PAETEC will also provide a summer work program for the students, giving them practical work experience. And as the students prepare to enter the workforce, PAETEC employees will give support and encouragement as part of a mentoring program.

“These scholarships directly support RIT's mission to provide our students with hands-on learning in a co-op setting,” states Jorge Diaz-Herrera, dean of the B. Thomas Golisano School of Computing and Information Sciences. “The B. Thomas Golisano College is excited that these scholarships will only strengthen the educational opportunities available for our students. And the scholarships reflect the confidence of local industry in the caliber of students we are producing.”

Bob Moore, senior vice president of Information Technology for PAETEC and an RIT alumnus, sees a dual advantage in the new relationship. “We look forward to helping RIT students interested in computing careers take full advantage of their educational opportunities,” Moore said. “At the same time, PAETEC stands to benefit by staying current in the industry through our association with a best-of-breed school such as RIT.”