SUNY Westchester Community College (SUNY WCC) and the PepsiCo Foundation have partnered to address a growing challenge facing students and employers alike: ensuring higher education leads to clear career outcomes. As questions about the return on investment of college intensify and employers struggle to find skilled talent, the collaboration focuses on helping prepare students not only to complete degrees but to enter the workforce with relevant skills, experience, and professional confidence.
Through a multi-year initiative launched in 2020, select SUNY WCC students pursuing in-demand fields receive scholarships through the PepsiCo Foundation Scholars Program that support transfer to four-year institutions. Along with scholarship funding, recipients receive mentorship from professionals, career preparation, and exposure to real workplace environments. The program is intentionally designed to reduce financial barriers, strengthen transfer success, and connect academic learning to the expectations of today’s workforce.
Through the PepsiCo Foundation Scholars Program, the PepsiCo Foundation is working to open pathways of prosperity for the next generation of leaders. By pairing SUNY WCC’s affordable, high-quality academic foundation with employer-informed support, the initiative helps create a clear, structured pathway from community college to bachelor’s degrees and long-term employment.
“This partnership demonstrates how education and industry can work together to create a tangible difference,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of SUNY Westchester Community College. “By aligning college pathways with real workforce needs, we are helping students move from the classroom to meaningful careers.”
From Education to Employment
Susan Sanchez’s journey illustrates that impact. After completing two years at SUNY WCC, Susan faced uncertainty about transferring to a four-year institution while working full-time and supporting her family. Encouraged by a faculty member who shared information about the PepsiCo Foundation Scholars Program, she applied just before the deadline. That support enabled her to transfer to SUNY Polytechnic Institute, complete multiple internships, and launch her career as a supply chain planner at PepsiCo, where she recently celebrated her one-year anniversary.
“The scholarship gave me more than just a way to pay for school,” Sanchez said. “It gave me direction, confidence, and professional mentorship when I needed it most.”
For Tiffany Patton, the partnership provided a chance to start fresh. After returning home during the pandemic, she enrolled at SUNY WCC seeking stability and a clear path forward. With scholarship support, mentorship, and career preparation, she transferred to Baruch College, graduated debt-free, and now works in finance at BNY.
Other scholars followed different paths but reached similar outcomes. Khayri West returned to college at age 30 while working full-time and preparing for the birth of his first child. A PepsiCo Foundation scholarship helped him persist at SUNY WCC, apply for a transfer scholarship, enroll at Pace University, complete a PepsiCo internship, and ultimately secure a role as a strategic analyst on the company’s Data and AI team.
“These students represent what is possible when talent is met with opportunity and support,” said Monica Bauer, SVP Social Impact, PepsiCo. “We know that when people have access to education, training and capital they can unlock opportunities that can lead to a better future. By investing in students, we are helping build a workforce prepared to lead in today’s economy.”
Program Impact
Together, these stories reflect a strategic approach to workforce development intended to benefit students, employers, and communities. SUNY WCC serves more than 20,000 learners annually and offers rigorous education at one of the lowest tuition rates in New York State. For employers, partnerships with community colleges help connect motivated students to career pathways and develop future professionals aligned with workforce needs.
Building on this momentum, SUNY Westchester Community College and the PepsiCo Foundation opened applications for the PepsiCo Foundation Scholarship on February 2 for SUNY WCC students continuing their education at four-year institutions. The application window will remain open through March 2, with a new cohort of 2026 scholars to be announced in late April 2026, extending a results-driven partnership that supports students at a critical next step in their academic journey.
