NYC Gazette

On Friday, CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez joined representatives from the Southpole Foundation at the CUNY Central offices to celebrate 20 years of the organization providing $972,000 in scholarships to CUNY community college students. The Foundation, started by Korean American entrepreneur David Khym, has funded scholarships at four CUNY schools, which received $20,000 annually for the 2024-25 academic year: Borough of Manhattan Community College, Kingsborough Community College, LaGuardia Community College and Queensborough Community College. This year, for the first time, Hostos Community College will also receive a $20,000 award.

“Over the last two decades, the Southpole Foundation has given consistent, generous annual gifts that have helped CUNY students to get one step closer to their dreams,” said Chancellor Matos Rodríguez. “We thank David Khym for understanding that community colleges play a critical role in enabling students of all backgrounds to improve their social and economic mobility through higher education. We are also looking forward to seeing how Hostos, the newest scholarship recipient, will use this funding to help its students thrive.”

“Supporting students in need to meet tuition costs of attending community colleges has been a core program of the Southpole Foundation since it was founded,” said board member Sang Pak.

“We thank CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez for inviting the Southpole Foundation to jointly celebrate this milestone event,” said David Khym. “We are deeply moved and heartened by the statements made by the recipients and look forward to a strengthened partnership between the Foundation and CUNY.”

The Southpole Foundation was started in 2003 by David Khym, who immigrated to the United States from South Korea in the 1970s. He began his career by establishing clothing stores for young men in Brooklyn and Queens and later founded a successful apparel company. Khym was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 2004 and received a New York Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2008.

The Foundation focuses on providing economic assistance to New York and New Jersey communities in socially conscious ways. To date, the Southpole Community College Scholarship Program has provided nearly 1,000 students at CUNY and other community colleges in New York and New Jersey scholarships.

“This scholarship is more than financial assistance; it’s a game-changer for me as a student and a lifeline easing my financial burden allowing me to focus more on my studies,” said Kingsborough Community College student Muhammad Khan who is majoring in business administration. “Moreover, it’s not just about money; it’s about strength it provides. In face real-life challenges empowers resilience navigate hurdles succeed.”

“I’ve always worked hard achieve high grades. This scholarship confirmed others recognized potential made eager accomplish more,” said Sabrina Cammisa graduated from Queensborough Community College 2015 also received Southpole scholarship.

The City University of New York is nation’s largest urban public university transformative engine social mobility critical component lifeblood New York City Founded 1847 as nation’s first free public institution higher education today seven community colleges senior graduate professional institutions spread across five boroughs serving more than undergraduate graduate awarding degrees each year mix quality affordability propels almost six times many low-income middle class beyond Ivy League combined More eighty percent graduates stay contributing aspects economic civic cultural life diversifying workforce every sector graduates faculty prestigious honors including Nobel Prizes MacArthur “genius” grants historic mission continues provide first-rate public education regardless means background learn visit https://www.cuny.edu

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