The Southpole Foundation has awarded $20,000 in scholarships to 11 students at LaGuardia Community College, Long Island City, for the 2025-26 academic year. The funding supports tuition, textbooks, and other education costs for eligible full-time students maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average and demonstrating financial need.
Southpole Foundation scholarship supports LaGuardia students
Details of the scholarship programme were outlined in a report published by QNS. The LaGuardia Community College Foundation administers the initiative and has partnered with the Southpole Scholars Program for over two decades.
The foundation distributes approximately $500,000 annually in named scholarships across more than 50 associate degree programmes. These awards, however, depend on eligibility, applications, and interviews conducted by the college.
Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor of the City University of New York, said the Southpole Foundation has provided support for two decades. He added that David Khym’s contributions show a clear understanding of community colleges’ role in promoting economic and social mobility.
The Southpole Foundation, founded by David Khym, is one of LaGuardia Community College’s longest-standing corporate partners. Since 2005, it has consequently donated $288,000, supporting 138 student scholarship recipients.
Similar long-term philanthropic education investments have been highlighted in Charity Journal’s reporting on charities that provide scholarship support to students affected by crisis.
Student recipients describe academic and personal impact
Mustapha Kenna, a 24-year-old Programming and Software Development major from Morocco with a 3.7 grade point average, said the scholarship reduces financial pressure and expands networking opportunities. He co-founded the North African Association Student Society and participates in multiple campus organisations.
Kenna and a partner won first place in a campus entrepreneurship competition for a sustainable clothing proposal. He plans to graduate in spring 2026 and pursue a customised bachelor’s degree in financial technology at CUNY.
“[Southpole] demonstrates the value of working hard to help others,” said Kenna. “I plan to follow their lead and do the same in the future.”
Khine Zin Thaw, a 20-year-old Electrical Engineering major from Myanmar with a 4.0 grade point average, described the scholarship as transformative for students managing living expenses independently. She has held leadership roles in student organisations, completed an engineering internship, and participated in academic research programmes.
“As a student living independently, I worry about tuition, rent, food, transportation — everything,” said Thaw. “This support lifted a heavy burden and allowed me to concentrate more on my education and personal growth.”
Thaw plans to graduate in spring 2026 and transfer to a four-year college to pursue a circuit design career. Similarly, broader education-focused charitable interventions are also examined in Charity Journal’s coverage of organisations helping children access education.
