UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sisters Purvi Shah and Ruchi Shah, both graduates of the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), are paying tribute to their parents with a new scholarship. The alumni have made a commitment to establish the Shah and Igwé Family Matching Scholarship in Honor of Bina and Shailesh Shah in the College of IST.
The endowment, valued at $80,000, was built on Purvi’s and Ruchi’s generosity and a matching commitment from the Igwé Family Matching Scholarship Program. Established by Penn State alumnus C. Frank Igwé in 2024, the program provides a 1:1 donation match for College of IST graduates who have established their first endowed scholarship.
“Purvi’s and Ruchi’s generosity will help make an IST education possible for students in need, and the impact is doubled by the wonderful program established by Frank,” said Andrea Tapia, dean of the College of IST. “This gift addresses the financial, academic and personal challenges faced by students who are struggling to meet their college expenses. We are truly grateful.”
Purvi earned a bachelor of science degree in information sciences and technology in 2003. She currently serves as the head of enterprise data products at American Express. Ruchi graduated with her bachelor of science degree in information sciences and technology in 2006. She is the managing director of Oracle services at Deloitte.
“Our father, Shailesh, was a chemical engineer and running a very successful company in India,” Purvi said. “But he and our mom saw a better professional future for their daughters in the United States.”
Shailesh took night school classes to learn about computers and eventually moved the family to the U.S. to pursue a job in the field, which his daughters said took a lot of courage and sacrifice. And some 30 years later, he still is an avid learner who enjoys learning new technologies and constantly growing.
“Our mom, Bina, was a true supporter through the entire journey and gave us a sense of stability, especially during our teenage years when we made the transition,” Purvi said. “Our parents are role models and have devoted so much time to us.”
Bina and Shailesh were strong foundations for both their daughters and the community, always reaching out to help people in need.
“We are lucky to have parents and extended family who have not only helped us become what we are today but who constantly give back to the community and help lift others,” Purvi said.
The Shah sisters said they wanted to find a way to follow in their parents’ footsteps. The Igwé Family Matching Scholarship Program provided them with the opportunity to maximize the impact of their gift to the College of IST.
“We wanted to help people the way our parents helped us,” Purvi said. “We are appreciative of the help we received while attending Penn State and grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward to future students.”
Donors like Purvi Shah and Ruchi Shah advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients, and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.