Suffolk Reporter

Jacob Thomas '73 Establishes Endowed CEAS Scholarship

When Jacob Thomas ’73 applied to the electrical engineering graduate program at Stony Brook University, he did not anticipate it would lead to a successful career in computer science. Similarly, when Thomas began contributing annually to Stony Brook through charitable donations, he did not foresee establishing an endowed scholarship using a qualified charitable donation (QCD). Both events occurred, and Thomas expressed his delight in being able to provide opportunities for students, similar to those he received from Stony Brook.

Thomas recently retired from Verizon, where he started in the research and development department before transitioning into customer support applications. Through Verizon’s corporate match program, Thomas began making annual contributions to scholarship funds at Stony Brook but always aspired to give more. After reading an article in SB Matters about an alumni couple creating an endowment and leveraging the New York State endowment match program and the Simons Infinity Investment match, he was inspired to do the same.

He decided to make a QCD through his IRA to establish the Jacob Thomas Mooletharayil Endowed Scholarship, named after his father and grandfather due to their emphasis on education. “My grandfather was a teacher and my father had scholarships to support him through college,” said Thomas. “The importance of education was instilled in me at a young age, and honoring their name through this scholarship ensures their legacy will live on at Stony Brook.”

“Jacob Thomas’ experience at Stony Brook is one that we hope all of our students have,” said College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Andrew Singer. “By establishing this scholarship, Jacob has demonstrated his deep commitment to providing opportunities for our students to ensure they get a world-class education.”

Read the full story at SB Matters.