To keep things interesting at her job at CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity technology company, Phyllis Ferrantello ’75 made a bet with the CEO that she could finish a sale with two large banks within the year. When she secured them both, he asked her what she wanted in return, offering a car, swimming pool and vacation. Phyllis’ answer shocked him: One year of tuition for a student at SUNY Potsdam, her alma mater. If he would give one year’s worth of tuition, she would match it. Her boss was so impressed that he went around the office, shared what she suggested, and garnered other pledges totaling nearly $200,000. Thus, the Phyllis Ferrantello Falcon Scholarship was born.
This scholarship supports students in the computer science major at the College, with a preference for female students. “I’ve proven that a female can do what a man does in this world,” Phyllis shares. “It’s a hard career to be in, and I wanted to make it easier for some women to be in science, technology, engineering and math.”
"I’m sentimental. I love this school. It was a great experience, I credit it with my success today, and I just wanted to pay it forward.”