Established in 2015 with a landmark gift from Leonard N. Stern, the Breakthrough Scholars Leadership Program provides full tuition and cost of attendance scholarships, as well as cohort-based leadership training, networking, and mentoring opportunities specifically designed to engage, support, and serve students from communities historically underrepresented in business schools. Scholars include high-potential students from low-income households and students who are the first in their families to attend a four-year college. With support from a small core group of leadership donors, the Breakthrough Scholars Leadership Program has supported over 80 students at Stern to date.

“Being a Sternie means being passionate, innovative, and bold. Sternies are leaders who always seek to solve problems, overcome challenges, and exploit their potentials to the fullest. We are ready to leave our mark in the world and to push society forward, which makes me so proud to be a Sternie.”
—Karen Carrillo (BS ’21), Breakthrough Scholar