On Thursday, December 4th, a group of FOSSI scholars were invited to New York City for an inside look at the New York Stock Exchange and to attend the annual AIChE black-tie gala at the Pierre Hotel.
NYSE tour and surprise lunch guest
In the early morning, scholars traveled to Wall Street for a tour of the New York Stock Exchange, which included a brief history, a visit to the trading floor and bell platform, and a look at historic artifacts, among them the 1792 Buttonwood Agreement from which the NYSE traces its origins. They also got to watch the ringing of the opening bell by Ally Bank, which celebrated its 10th anniversary as a listed company.
Scholars then headed uptown for a delicious Italian lunch at Trattoria Dell’Arte and a surprise celebrity sighting – hip hop icon Flava Flav – who generously shared hugs and photos with the group.
FOSSI scholars join their sponsors at the AIChE Gala
In the evening scholars joined FOSSI sponsors ACC, AdvanSix, BASF, Celanese, Dow, Eastman, and ExxonMobil for dinner and inspiring presentations honoring industry leaders Michael Heinz, Chairman of BASF Corporation and Member of the Board of Directors; Lori J. Ryerkerk, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & President, Celanese Corporation; and Gregory Stephanopoulos, Willard Henry Dow Professor in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
FOSSI was featured prominently in the evening remarks, first by John Sampson, Dow’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Manufacturing and Engineering, who noted, “For anyone wondering how FOSSI has been such a success so quickly, I’d put it this way: In this world, there are good intentions… and then there are good actions. FOSSI has been all about action. It’s a story of putting significant funding and hard work towards life-changing actions that are benefitting outstanding individuals — and that ultimately benefit all of us.”
Gala honorees share their enthusiasm for FOSSI
Honoree Michael Heinz shared his enthusiasm for the program, commenting, “You may be wondering why a German executive of the world's leading chemical company cares so much for the FOSSI program. I support this program because I did not have to struggle. There was never a worry if I would be prepared for and welcomed into any of my chosen fields of study or career paths. It was not until my current role that my eyes were fully opened to the very real struggles that FOSSI scholars face to reach the same starting point as other students. And I have seen the power of HBCUs in bringing strong new talent into industry.”
Fellow honoree Lori Ryerkerk added, “The ability to provide STEM opportunities to a more diverse and broader set of future leaders is something that both myself and Celanese are passionate about. There’s no better investment we can make than owning our collective responsibility for inspiring and mentoring the next generation of STEM professionals who will continue to change the world for the better.”
AdvanSix President and CEO Erin Kane then urged all the FOSSI scholars to “Stand up! Stand up and let us recognize you and your incredible accomplishments,” to thunderous applause.
FOSSI scholar reflects on the evening
Summing up the evening, scholar Destiny Dewar exclaimed, “The gala was a memorable experience. To be able to be around like-minded individuals and connect with my fellow FOSSI scholars left me feeling immensely grateful for the opportunity.”
See more photos from the day's events in the album below and on Flickr.
If you know of any high school seniors who are eligible for the FOSSI scholarship, please encourage them to apply! The application deadline is January 31, 2025.