Augusta, Maine, USA: Indian-American IIT Kanpur grads donate $3.5M to UMaine for scholarships and innovation. Discover how their gift supports students and honors their journey.

IIT Kanpur Graduates Donate $3.5 Million to Foster Scholarships and Innovation at UMaine

Rajendra and Neera Singh, Indian-American graduates of IIT Kanpur, have generously donated $3.5 million to the University of Maine Foundation. Out of this total, $2.2 million will be used to create the Rajendra Singh and Neera Singh Family Scholarship, aimed at supporting academically talented Maine high school students with financial needs, particularly those enrolling in UMaine’s College of Engineering and Computing. Recipients of this scholarship will be designated as Singh Scholars.

The remaining $1.3 million will fund the Rajendra Singh and Neera Singh Family Chair in Applied Innovation. This endowed faculty position is intended to promote cross-disciplinary education and encourage the transformation of innovative ideas into practical solutions.

The Singhs expressed their gratitude to the University of Maine for playing a key role in launching their professional journeys and helping them adapt to life in the U.S. The endowed chair also pays tribute to Professor Emeritus John “Vet” Vetelino, who was instrumental in connecting IIT Kanpur alumni with UMaine’s research initiatives.

UMaine officials commended the Singhs for their dedication to education, increasing rural students’ access to higher learning, and fostering applied research. Founders of Tecom Ventures and Lunayach Communications, the couple is noted for their impact on telecommunications, with Neera Singh inducted into the Wireless History Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 2022. Their donation was revealed during the UMaine Foundation’s annual Charles F. Allen Society luncheon.