Alumnus honors his mother and grandmother through endowed IST scholarship

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State alumnus Sean Stanton, class of 2009, is honoring the service legacy of his mother and grandmother with a commitment to establish the Eleanor M. Stanton and Patricia C. Edrington Legacy Scholarship/Igwé Family Matching Scholarship in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST).  

The endowment, valued at $50,000, was built on Stanton’s generosity and a matching commitment from Penn State alumnus C. Frank Igwé, who established the Igwé Family Matching Scholarship Program — a one-to-one permanent match for first-time gifts from College of IST alumni — in 2024.  

“We are grateful to Sean for his support of IST’s students and to Frank for extending the reach of this generous gift,” said Andrea Tapia, dean of the College of IST. “Making a Penn State education possible for those who struggle to meet their college expenses helps to ensure we’re providing an inclusive and equitable academic community.” 

Stanton began his academic journey in 2004 at Penn State Harrisburg and later transitioned to the University Park campus. He chose Penn State because it offered opportunity, flexibility and affordability. 

“I appreciated the size of the University, the strength of its technology programs and the energy of the community,” he said. “I knew it was the right place for me.” 

Stanton started as a computer engineering student and also explored supply chain management before changing his major to information sciences and technology. 

“I found that I wanted a strong blend of business, people and technology,” he said. “That’s what led me to the College of IST.” 

He graduated in December 2009 with a bachelor of science degree in information sciences and technology and began his career as a software engineer with Northrop Grumman.  

“My first assignment with Northrop Grumman was a cybersecurity research and development project for the intelligence community, which ultimately set the course for my entire career,” Stanton said. “Since then, I have spent more than 15 years working across cybersecurity, governance, risk and compliance at organizations including Capital One, Amazon and now Meta.” 

At Meta, Stanton serves as the manager of Global Product Governance Risk and Compliance. He is also enrolled in a cyber policy and compliance graduate program at The George Washington University. 

Stanton’s gift to the College of IST is a tribute to the two most important women in his life, he said.  

His grandmother, Eleanor Stanton, worked as a social worker, caring for individuals with special needs. His mother, Patricia Edrington, spent her career as a nurse. Both approached their work and their lives with compassion, strength and integrity. 

“My mother and grandmother shaped my values more than anyone else in my life,” Stanton said. “They were deeply ethical and family oriented, and those qualities became part of who I am. They taught me to work hard, take care of others and try to do the right thing even when it is not easy. This scholarship is a tribute to them and a way to extend their influence to students who share their values.” 

Consideration for this new scholarship will be given to full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled in or plan to enroll in the College of IST. First preference will be given to students who are first-generation college students or students who have declared a second major or a minor in either the College of Education or the College of Health and Human Development.  

“My family struggled financially, so I understand the difference that financial support can make,” Stanton said. “I want this scholarship to support students who may be navigating similar challenges, especially first-generation students or those pursuing studies in areas that reflect the legacy of service my mother and grandmother embodied. Education and health care change lives, and I want this scholarship to reach students who are committed to making an impact in those fields.” 

Stanton, a member of the IST Alumni Society Board, credited Penn State for shaping his career, expanding his perspective and giving him a community that remains part of his identity today.  

“This scholarship is both a reflection of where I come from and an investment in the next generation of Penn State students who will go on to shape the world in their own way,” he said. “I also hope it continues the values my mother and grandmother instilled in me: Work hard, take care of others and try to do the right thing even when it is difficult. My hope is that this scholarship opens doors for students who embody that same spirit and simply need someone to believe in them.” 

Gifts like the Eleanor M. Stanton and Patricia C. Edrington Legacy Scholarship/Igwé Family Matching Scholarship in the College of Information Sciences and Technology 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.