Ashok and Ishu Wadhwani’s parents ingrained how education plays a big part in a person’s life. Growing up in India, the couple learned early on that education was important for everyone despite societal norms. 

“Our families were very forward-thinking and believed in the importance of education for both men and women,” said Ishu. “Our parents made us aware the true meaning of education was not just book-based. One must have the skills and tools to achieve their goals, pursue passions and be self-sufficient.” 

The Wadhwanis embodied their parents’ sentiments, leading to over 25 years of supporting Lone Star College, with Ashok serving on the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program Advisory Committee at LSC-CyFair. They have helped grow the program and eventually began hiring LSC students and graduates to work as interns for their company, Applied Field Data Systems. 

“To further enhance the program as well as inspire and encourage the excellent caliber of LSC students,  we made it the mission statement of our Company to hire them as interns and provide them with real world work experience which they could use along with their technical skills,” said Ashok.

“Over the years, we’ve hired about 20 students, placing them with clients working on live projects. These students received a salary,  benefits and flex hours so they could continue their education at the same time. Many of them hold managerial positions today.”

“Lone Star College is doing a great job of educating students in GIS and teaching them the right soft skills, which becomes very important when they are ready to enter the workforce,” said Ashok. “My goal is to share my knowledge and expertise of the latest industry trends and technologies to help students get hired sooner.”

The Wadhwanis took their dedication to advancing academic opportunities for the next generation to a new level. Along with serving on the advisory committee and hiring LSC-CyFair students, the couple created the Ishu & Ashok Wadhwani Endowment in 2022.

They have also encouraged others in the Community because of which more endowments have been created in other fields as well. Recipients must pursue an associate degree or credit certificate in the GIS program, maintain a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need. The funds pay for tuition, fees and books. 

“The scholarship I received made it possible for me to attend the in-person GIS Remote Sensing course,” said Kat Amundsen, LSC-CyFair GIS student and scholarship recipient. “As a commuter student, I could not have made the 979.2 miles and $95.84 in tolls necessary for completing my GIS Analysis certificate without the generous scholarship afforded to me.” 

The LSC GIS program prepares graduates for wide-ranging careers as entry-level technicians for data analysts and project managers in diverse fields of GIS application. They will develop the skills to work in various levels of business, industry, government agencies and research and development. 

“We saw that there was a great demand for personnel in the GIS arena and not enough were entering the field, so we hope this endowment will allow students to pursue a career in industry and not be discouraged due to lack of funds,” said Ishu. “We hope others will create an endowment to ensure students have the financial resources to complete their education. The process is simple and Lone Star College Foundation is eager to help.” 

Learn more at LoneStar.edu/GIS-AAS