When Syed Azeem (B.S. ’06) received a small, non-descript envelope from the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) program in the summer of 2002, he recalls thinking, “Only big envelopes have good news.” Even after reading the letter offering him a warm welcome to the Gates scholar community, Azeem says he was still in disbelief and, to this day, feels the enormity of the opportunity that the scholarship has offered him.
“What the Gates program is doing is remarkable; there is nothing comparable,” he says. Established in 1999 by Bill and Melinda Gates, the $1 billion initiative provides college funding to low-income minority students who possess superior academic and leadership skills as well as community-mindedness.
“They want their scholars to be active in their communities and share what they have learned,” says Azeem, who moved to Queens, N.Y., from Karachi, Pakistan, in February 2001. He recalls that year and how the events of Sept. 11 gave him a sense of uncertainty, “but I was so impressed with how so many people were so generous with their money and their time.” Azeem decided to volunteer for the local Red Cross, “because it was a way for me to help other people, and in some ways, help myself get over the sadness I was feeling.”
His volunteer work and other experiences—which included serving as Web designer for his 4,000-student New York City high school and one teacher’s online study guide, as well as his involvement with the Upward Bound program at LaGuardia Community College, which prepares low-income students to apply for college—caught the attention of the Gates Foundation.
In addition to offering financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate studies, GMS actively monitors the scholars’ academic progress, assists in advancement, and “even offers quality-of-life advice for areas outside academics. They really want you to succeed,” Azeem says.
He entered NYIT’s business administration/management of information systems undergraduate program in 2003. “I had heard great things about NYIT from friends and knew it would be a good fit for my interests,” he says, noting the many valuable lessons he will take away with him. “In addition to the academics, I learned one of the keys to success in life is communicating well. Also, knowing what is expected of you and exceeding those expectations is very important.”
Always the business student, he adds, “The more that you make of your time here, the better the return on your investment.”
Azeem had the unique experience of co-authoring an academic paper with Kevin O’Sullivan, Ph.D., NYIT assistant professor of management, and presenting it at the 2006 International Conference on Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning in Santiago, Chile.
That experience undoubtedly puts Azeem ahead of the pack for the graduate degree he hopes to earn. “At NYIT, I’ve learned you can really make things happen if you explore all your opportunities.” |
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Syed Azeem (B.S. ’06) stands outside the Manhattan campus. The Gates Millennium Scholar entered NYIT’s School of Management in 2003. |
