UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Darin Carter was a student in the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), scholarships helped to make his college experience possible. Now, he is paying that support forward, helping another IST student forge her own Penn State story.
Carter recently established the Darin Sinclair Carter-Igwé Family Matching Scholarship in the College of Information Sciences and Technology. The endowment, valued at $100,000, was built on Carter’s generosity and a matching commitment from Penn State alumnus C. Frank Igwé, who established the Igwé Family Matching Scholarship Program, a 1:1 permanent match for first-time gifts from College of IST alumni.
“Scholarships are critical in today’s academic climate, particularly as students and families face rising costs and financial pressures,” Carter said. “The matching scholarship program and the flexibility to contribute over a number of years is really what gave me the courage to make this gift now.”
Consideration for the scholarship is given to undergraduate students in the College of IST who demonstrate financial need and are first-generation college students or contribute to the diversity of the student body. First preference is given to students who are also enrolled in the Schreyer Honors College.
“This is a long-term commitment that will support dozens of students in the days and years to come,” Carter said. “My hope is that the impact extends well beyond the individual scholarship recipients to create a ripple effect for students, their families and their communities over time.”
In 2014, Carter earned a bachelor’s degree in security and risk analysis from the College of IST with a focus on cybersecurity and a minor in entrepreneurship. A Schreyer Scholar, he completed his honors thesis while studying abroad at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He was president of the IST Diversity Network and academic excellence chair for the National Society of Black Engineers. His interest in both technology and business laid a foundation, he said, that continues to shape his career, and he now serves as a blockchain advocacy manager at Coinbase.
“A Penn State education is about all the experiences,” Carter said. “College is not just preparing for a career; it’s an opportunity to explore interests, take on challenges and build relationships that continue long after graduation.”
Carter said none of it would have been possible without financial support.
“I am sincerely grateful to the Schreyer Honors College and the Bunton-Waller Scholarship program,” he said. “These two scholarships made it financially possible for me to attend Penn State, and they are the primary reason I am so eager to give back to the next generation of students.”
Empowering students through giving
Carter said he saw fellow IST alumni — like Corey Lee, class of 2012 — establishing scholarships early in their careers. Their example, combined with the multiplier effect offered through Igwe’s program, showed Carter that he could make a meaningful impact without waiting until later in his career.
“Scholarships empower students,” he said. “When students are worried about how to pay for the cost of their education, they can’t take full advantage of all that Penn State offers. Through giving, we can help them focus on what they’re here to do: learn, develop their skills, explore new interests and invest in themselves.”
Support that’s more than financial
Recently, Carter met Sophie Vu, the first recipient of the Darin Sinclair Carter-Igwé Family Matching Scholarship. For Vu, the scholarship represents more than financial assistance.
“This scholarship means that someone is supporting me without having met me,” Vu said. “The knowledge that someone believes that I can succeed, that I can do this, is a morale booster.”
Vu is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in data sciences in the College of IST. She said she wants to harness the power of technology to improve healthcare, specifically by using data to support disease prediction and personalized medical treatments.
Carter said he sees a connection between Vu’s interests and the skills she is developing at Penn State.
“The fact that you want to go into healthcare and the fact that you have such a talent and a knack for data is exactly what is going to position you well in the future for whatever you do,” he told her.
Recalling how his decision to study abroad during his senior year became one of the most meaningful experiences of his educational journey, Carter encouraged Vu to use her remaining time at Penn State to explore even the most challenging opportunities.
“Make the most of your college experience,” he told her. “Explore your curiosity, and don't be afraid to do hard things.”
Vu is already building that broader Penn State experience. She is involved with the Vietnamese Student Association, which is important to her, she said, as her parents are from Vietnam.
“The communities students build along the way are part of the Penn State journey,” Carter told Vu. “Your willingness to get involved outside the classroom is a testament to the fact that there’s a community that’s excited to embrace you and celebrate you.”
Building community through alumni engagement
Carter said he encourages fellow alumni to give back in whatever ways they can. Beyond contributing financially, graduates can mentor students by sharing their University experiences and offering career advice.
“Alumni engagement can take many forms: financial support, mentorship, professional expertise or simply making time for students,” he said. “We want our students to know that we’re a community of people who want to see them do well, and they can lean in if there’s anything they need.”
Carter’s example reflects the values of the College of IST, said Andrea Tapia, dean of the college.
“Darin is an outstanding example of what we hope our IST graduates will become: leaders who bring together technology, business and a commitment to the greater good,” Tapia said. “He has taken the interdisciplinary perspective he developed at Penn State and applied it in a unique way, and now he’s extending that impact by creating opportunities for the next generation of students.”
Gifts like the Darin Sinclair Carter-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.