The Lee Foundation names 2021 Distinguished Lee Scholar & invests additional $435,000 over next 3 years to expand stem scholarship programs

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation announced Chiara Young is the 2021 Distinguished Lee Scholar. Young, who graduated from RIT this spring, was selected through a highly competitive selection process overseen by a committee of foundation board members, community members and representatives from partner schools.

To further build on its commitment in education and workforce opportunities, the foundation is investing an additional $435,000 over three years to expand its STEM scholarship programs.

The Lee Foundation, a private foundation based in Buffalo, focuses its investments in two key areas: education and mental health. As part of its scholarship program, the Lee Foundation provides financial support to juniors and seniors attending post-secondary educational institutions who are majoring in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).

Despite receiving up to $20,000 of foundation support, Lee Scholars may still graduate with significant educational loans. To help alleviate this debt, the foundation created the Distinguished Lee Scholar Award, an IRS-approved program to repay the award recipient’s undergraduate qualified student loans. The award is given to an exceptional Lee Scholar who exemplifies the foundation’s ideals of integrity, leadership and service to his/her community.

“We are so pleased to recognize Chiara Young as this year’s Distinguished Lee Scholar,” said Jane Mogavero, executive director. “She is a dynamic leader in and out of the classroom. And the selection committee was impressed with Chiara’s volunteerism and commitment to utilizing her biomedical engineering degree to help others.”

While earning her degree in biomedical engineering at RIT, Young participated in a three-week service trip to Guatemala to repair medical equipment, served on the executive board of Alpha Xi Delta completing 60 hours volunteer hours per semester, and was the development coordinator for new student orientation, overseeing 200 staff members. In addition to her extracurricular activities, Young was on the dean’s list and a recipient of the RIT Presidential Award.

Since 2010, the foundation has provided STEM scholarships to students attending two-year and four-year colleges. Starting this fall, the foundation will commit an additional $435,000 over three years to expand its scholarship programs at RIT and the University of Rochester and launch new scholarship programs at Syracuse University and Monroe Community College.

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation was established in 2007 when Patrick P. Lee sold International Motion Control (IMC), one of the world’s premier manufacturers of shock absorption and vibration isolation products. For more information, visit www.lee.foundation.