Paying it forward

Community member starts engineering scholarship fund

By California State University, Bakersfield

April 24^th, 2020

For the last couple years, Dr. Vilas Bankar, a retired chemical engineer, has been a donor of California State University, Bakersfield.

Although he had no direct ties to the university, he is a member of the Bakersfield community and felt compelled to give back, after moving to the city when he got remarried.

“This is my community now,” said Dr. Bankar.

After seeing an article in The Bakersfield Californian about the basic needs of CSUB students, Dr. Bankar contacted CSUB to see how he could help.

“Nobody should be struggling for food and give up their education when they don’t have enough to eat,” said Dr. Bankar.

The CSUB Alumni Association was hosting their annual Holiday Mixer around the same time, so Dr. Bankar attended. It was there that he met vice president for University Advancement, Victor Martin.

Dr. Bankar explained that he would like to give to a student in need. Martin then connected him with executive director of Development, Heath Niemeyer, to find the right student who would benefit from the funds.

With CSUB’s assistance, Dr. Bankar started a scholarship in his late wife’s name to ensure that a student in need received it.

“I want to make sure that the person I’m giving to really has some need and deserves it,” he said.

Over 11,000 students attend CSUB, and 71% demonstrate financial need. Supporting CSUB students has a direct impact on the future of Kern County, as 60% of students remain in the region after graduation.

Dr. Bankar grew up in India, where his education was free until high school, as that is how India’s education system operates. He wanted to be able to pay it forward.

After receiving his degree at the Indian Institute of Technology — a university similar to MIT in the United States — Dr. Bankar wanted to further his studies and moved to Akron, Ohio and finally received his doctorate in engineering in Knoxville, Tenn.

His family wasn’t rich growing up, but his parents were able to provide them with basic needs, like food, shelter and clothing. When he made it to college, he received help from his community in India, with scholarship money helping pay for the institution and his living expenses.

Although he said he might not be a rich man with thousands of dollars to give, he wants to help as much as he can. This year has been challenge for him financially, but he realizes that there are other people who are hurting worse than he is.

“I cannot see a student not getting his education, her education, because she or their families don’t have enough income to provide food,” he said. “I want to help as much as I can.”

For those who might be considering giving to CSUB, Dr. Bankar said that if you have enough assets and can use a portion of what you have, then do it, especially for someone who really needs it.