The Ripple Effects of Giving

By Gabby Gartner-Coliane

They say college is for classes and campus life—but for Salma Xolo‑Thomas, Chase Williams, and Jack Pearson, it became the launchpad for their own startups. Picture Xolo-Thomas mixing polish in her dorm to transform a hobby into “SyxSets” nail appointments. Think of Williams scrolling through TikTok, then conceiving Banana Express—a platform spotlighting indie musicians. Then there’s Pearson, who, with his brother, built Forevergreen, a carbon-tracking app that won innovation awards before he even tossed his cap. These students didn’t wait for graduation, they flipped passion into profit in real time—writing side‑hustle history between study sessions, pop‑ups, and entrepreneurship classes.

Think of giving not as a duty, but as a privilege,” John D. Rockefeller once said. 

For Abhishek Mehta (BSBA ’05) and Regina and Dennis Stover (MBA ’81 and ’78, respectively), their experiences at Pitt Business were so positively impactful that giving back became a priority. For all three, investing in the future of business is deeply personal.

Paying it Forward

Mehta credits two influential figures for shaping his philanthropic mindset: his father and Rockefeller. His father came to America over 50 years ago with nothing and, even while building his own life and family, found ways to give back. His generosity was never conditional on financial success: “It is simply who he is.” He was inspired to start a scholarship in honor of his parents, Shashikala and Kishor S. Mehta.

Mehta’s first job was with a foundation started by John D. Rockefeller Jr. There, he witnessed firsthand the scope and depth of their global philanthropy.

Mehta is keenly aware that higher education is a financial commitment that some cannot bear on their own. It’s the reason why he became the first undergraduate alumnus to create an undergraduate scholarship for the school.

“I hope my contributions are a bottle of Gatorade in someone’s marathon,” says Mehta. 

In April 2025, Mehta had the privilege to meet his scholarship’s first recipient, Christopher Jean Baptiste (BSBA ’25). He was moved by Jean Baptiste’s work ethic and drive. The meeting reinforced that giving is more than a financial transaction.

“My heart was full,” Mehta said.

Jean Baptiste was overwhelmed with joy and relief when notified that he would be receiving a scholarship. “Pitt Business students are truly blessed to have alumni who are actively looking to pay it forward and give back in the form of scholarships,” he says.

Giving is in our DNA

When Dennis Stover began his full-time, 10-month MBA program, he and Regina were newly married with very little in savings. She was working full-time, intending to start the part-time MBA program within a year. They were struggling to figure out how they would make it all work. Before the start of Dennis’s first semester, he was offered a scholarship that “was the difference between starting married life in debt versus debt-free.”

Both were raised in families that gave their time, talent, and money to those in need. They want their gifts to be awarded to non-traditional students, knowing that many life circumstances may cause barriers to education.

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunities that our MBA degrees provided us and want to give back to help future generations of students achieve success,” they say. “We share our story not for recognition, but to encourage others to be as generous as possible in their giving to our alma mater.”

Giving is Contagious

“Receiving this scholarship has only amplified my emotions towards giving in the future because now I feel the importance of paying it forward,” Jean Baptiste says. 

You don’t have to make a large financial gift to make a meaningful difference. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps lay the foundation for student success.

“Your gift is important, no matter the amount,” says Regina.