Students, Donors Celebrated at Inaugural Jonsson School Scholarship Dinner
By: Christina Pugliese | May 23, 2025
On April 23, more than 100 students, donors, faculty and friends of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science gathered to celebrate the school’s 2024-25 scholarship recipients. Held at the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, the inaugural dinner was sponsored by Axxess.
Iram Hasan, assistant dean of development and alumni relations, extended the Jonsson School’s gratitude to supporters for their efforts to uplift and financially support students’ ambitions and goals.
“The Jonsson School is actively engaged in the University-wide New Dimensions campaign,” Hasan said. “The Jonsson School has proudly raised over $51 million toward our $75 million goal thanks to the generosity of our community. These contributions have created scholarships, fellowships and vital support services for our students.”
Dr. Stephanie Adams, dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair, spoke about the school’s culture and community of nearly 9,000 students.
“What I love most about working at our University is the sense of possibility,” Adams said. “This past year at the Jonsson School, we released our strategic framework, which includes strongly emphasizing student success initiatives and building a sense of pride in who we are by telling our story and promoting a culture of excellence among our faculty, staff and students.”
She also described the Jonsson School’s efforts to develop the Batteries and Energy to Advance Commercialization and National Security (BEACONS) Center. This on-campus research facility was created in 2023 after the Department of Defense awarded the school $30 million. It is the largest allocation of funds from a federal agency that UT Dallas has received to date.
“We are focusing on interdisciplinary research thrusts in areas of critical national significance, such as the BEACONS Battery Prototype Facility,” Adams said. “We must acknowledge that this work is meeting important needs both here and abroad. Our economic environment here in Texas will continue to support the work of our students and faculty, and we will continue to train students to meet our society’s most critical needs.”
Chris Bhatti MA’06, assistant vice president for development and alumni relations, said that donor support for students is life changing. As a UTD student, he received support from a donor that provided financial security and put him on the path to graduation.
“For me, the financial support I received was the difference between going to school or not,” Bhatti said. “As I got to know [my benefactors], I began to understand why they made their gift, and the joy that they experienced from giving. When I reflect back, that was when my journey in philanthropy began.”
Bhatti introduced Andrew Olowu, chief technology officer at Axxess. In 2019, Axxess and UTD announced a new endowed scholarship fund, the Axxess Scholarship. To date, it is the largest scholarship program for Jonsson School students.
“The intent [of the endowment] is to recognize top engineering and computer science talent and help support continuing education for those most in need,” Olowu said. “One of the core values at our company is giving back to the community, so it is a natural choice for Axxess to provide the funding necessary to reward and help future engineering students at UTD.”
Axxess has also sponsored numerous UTD events and initiatives, including the annual HackUTD Hack-a-Thon, the UT Dallas Awards Gala, luncheons and golf tournaments. In 2020, the company’s contributions were recognized with the naming of the Axxess Atrium in the Engineering and Computer Science West building.
“Contributing to the Jonsson School is vital for us to ensure we grow our pipeline of talent that assures our best possible future,” Olowu said. “I can think of no better way to make a difference than by leaning in, paying it forward and giving opportunities to those who may be less fortunate than ourselves to provide them with the best possible education to enable them to have the confidence to pursue their own dreams.”
Farhan Jamil BS’25, a recent computer science graduate, spoke about his experiences in the Jonsson School and the impact that philanthropic giving has had on his life.
“When I was applying to colleges, I quickly knew that I wanted to attend UTD, but I knew there would be a financial hurdle,” Jamil said. “It is only through the generous scholarships that I received that the path to my degree became possible. I am excited to share that after graduation I will be joining JP Morgan as a software engineer. This opportunity is the result of the scholarship support that allowed me to attend here, the incredible education and mentorship I received at the Jonsson School and the communities I found through my organizations.”