Stony Brook University Receives Grant from Santander US Bank to Help Build Workforce Skills for First Generation Students

STONY BROOK, NY - November 10, 2025- The State University of New York at Stony Brook has received a $260,000 grant from Santander US bank to fund the university's new Pathways to Employability initiative, a two-year program designed to equip first-generation and Pell-eligible college students with career-relevant experiential learning opportunities to develop essential workforce skills.

The Stony Brook Career Center will administer the program and offer customized professional development workshops, mentorship and corporate site visits that are aimed at helping students build confidence, gain industry exposure and secure internships. This funding will also support scholarships and fund graduate student program coordinator positions.

"Being the first in your family to attend college means blazing a trail without a clear map," said Associate Vice President for Career Readiness and Experiential Education Marianna Savoca. "At the Stony Brook Career Center, we want to be that guide - helping our 'firsts' navigate with confidence and excitement. With Santander's generous gift, we're building a model that can grow here and inspire replication across other institutions."

"We are incredibly thankful to Santander US for their support in helping advance equity and opportunity," said Vice President for Student Affairs Richard "Rick" Gatteau. "This grant will strengthen our efforts to expand experiential learning opportunities, ensuring that every Seawolf has access to the tools and experiences that foster success beyond graduation."

"At Santander, we believe in creating opportunities that help every student succeed. Through our partnership with Stony Brook University, we are proud to support initiatives that provide students with the resources, programs and experiences that make a meaningful difference in their education and future careers," said Angela Moultrie, Region President, Santander Bank, N.A. "The introduction of university grants in the U.S. builds on Santander's commitment to provide open access to world-class resources, reinforcing its belief that lifelong learning is essential in today's dynamic job market."

With Pathways to Employability, Stony Brook looks to advance its mission of inclusive excellence - ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive, lead and shape the future. The program will begin serving students in January 2026.

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About Santander US (Santander Holdings USA, Inc.)

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (SHUSA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) (Santander), recognized as one of the world's most admired companies by Fortune magazine in 2025, with approximately 178 million customers in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. As the intermediate holding company for Santander's U.S. businesses, SHUSA is the parent company of financial companies with more than 11,300 employees, 4.5 million customers and assets of $165 billion in the fiscal year ended 2024. These include Santander Bank, N.A., Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Banco Santander International, Santander Securities LLC, Santander US Capital Markets LLC and several other subsidiaries. Santander US is recognized as a top 10 auto lender, a top 10 multifamily bank lender and servicer and has a growing wealth management business. For more information about Santander US, please visit www.santanderus.com.

About Stony Brook University

The State University of New York at Stony Brook is New York's flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 27,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 225,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world's biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #59 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook's membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university's distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal and Breakthrough Prizes in Mathematics and Physics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy - one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/ and X@stonybrooku.