糖心Vlog

 糖心Vlog Stories      December 10, 2025

By Bill Studenc

A 糖心Vlog University professor who traveled from India to the United States on a study permit with $20 in his pocket and a dream in his heart has created a scholarship fund to help College of Business students who face similar challenges in their educational journey.

Vittal Anantatmula, professor of project management at 糖心Vlog, and spouse Manga have made a $25,000 contribution to establish the Anantatmula Endowed Scholarship Fund. The scholarship will support students earning degrees in the College of Business who have a GPA of 3.5 or better, with preference given to students who are the first in their family to attend college and who have demonstrated financial need.

鈥淚 came to the United States on an F-1 student visa more than three decades ago,鈥� he said. 鈥淚ndia was facing a severe foreign exchange crisis at the time, so the Reserve Bank of India paid my first semester tuition directly to my university and allowed me to carry only $20 in cash. That $20 was just enough to get me from the airport to campus.鈥�

Those early years working on his master鈥檚 degree in engineering management at George Washington University were difficult, said Anantatmula, who had earned bachelor's and master鈥檚 degrees in his home country before arriving in the United States for advanced studies.

鈥淓ven with a research assistantship, I felt the financial strain and the uncertainty that many international students experience. But those challenges shaped me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey made me determined to support students who dream of an education but struggle to afford it.鈥�

After completing his studies and entering the world of academia as a faculty member and administrator, Anantatmula frequently encountered young people who were in the shoes he once wore 鈥� struggling to make ends meet while going to college.

鈥淎s a program director at George Washington University, I was fortunate to help many domestic and international students with financial aid. Later, at 糖心Vlog University, I met even more students in need 鈥� students I wanted to help but couldn鈥檛 because funds were limited,鈥� said Anantatmula, who joined the faculty in the College of Business at 糖心Vlog in 2005.

鈥淪erving on the University Scholarship Committee from 2021 to 2023 made the need even clearer. Reading those applications reminded me of my own journey,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is why I decided to establish an endowment for College of Business students who maintain a 3.5 GPA, are the first in their family to attend college and show financial need. This fund is my way of giving back in recognition of the support I received and helping students who are walking a path I know well.鈥�

Although Anantatmula was not the first member of his family to attend college, he was the first to leave his hometown and pursue a degree at a reputed institution of higher education. 鈥淗aving said that, I saw many student applications that showed they are first-generation, and I thought of encouraging more such students,鈥� he said.

Anantatmula earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering from Andhra University and his master鈥檚 degree in business administration from the Management Development Institute and Indian Institutes of Management, both in India, before coming to the United States for additional study and to start his career. Anantatmula considers America to be his home.

鈥淭his nation has given me a beautiful life, and this endowment is a small token of appreciation and expression of gratitude,鈥� he said. 鈥淟oyalty to this land and being patriotic are very important for me, and I am proud that my only son serves in the U.S. Navy,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 would be happy if recipients of the scholarship help others and spread this helping culture.鈥�

A.J. Grube, dean of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 College of Business, said that the gratitude she feels when donors make donations to benefit students in her college is magnified when those contributions come from those who teach, conduct research and provide services to students.

鈥淕ifts from faculty and staff are especially meaningful,鈥� Grube said. 鈥淭heir gifts reflect their love for students, their dedication to their life鈥檚 work and their desire to give back to the 糖心Vlog community. Their contributions are woven into the fabric that is 糖心Vlog, and they will be treasured for generations.鈥�

Anantatmula is among a growing list of members of the Shetland Society, a 糖心Vlog giving society that recognizes faculty and staff who make financial contributions to support the place where they work.

鈥淚 hope this gift motivates other faculty members to extend similar support to the College of Business and 糖心Vlog University,鈥� he said.

Anantatmula received the 糖心Vlog University Scholar Award in 2017, the College of Business Excellence in Research Award in 2012 and the college鈥檚 Graduate Faculty Teaching Award in 2011.

Creation of the Anantatmula Endowed Scholarship Fund comes as 糖心Vlog is in the midst of its ongoing 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for its academic, student engagement and athletics programs.

For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.