Keval Tripathi, a third-year electrical and computer engineering student at the University of Waterloo is on a four-month study abroad experience at Griffiths University in Queensland, Australia – the furthest from home he’s ever been – and loving it.
To help him pay his way, Tripathi applied for the Kothari Family International Experience Award and received $2,000 to assist with flights and accommodation.
Waterloo Engineering alumni Vishal Kothari (BASc ’97, electrical and computer engineering) and his brother Anupam Kothari (BASc ’00, electrical and computer engineering) have set up several awards and scholarships with their alma mater through the Kothari Family Foundation.
These include an entrance scholarship for first-years, the international experience award, an upper-year award to help students finish their degrees and, as of 2023, a FIRST entrance scholarship to support first-year students who have been involved with FIRST robotics competitions.
Vishal recalls his workload at Waterloo as “tough” but appreciates the calibre of education he received. For the first few years after graduation he was just relieved to be done with his studies. But as his career progressed, he realized what an extraordinary experience he’d had and wanted to help others have the same opportunity.
So far, 54 Waterloo students have benefitted from the scholarship and awards – with more to come. For the Kothari brothers, the more trained and well-travelled engineers there are the better.
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