PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E.
PepsiCo Foundation and WCC Partnership: Education Is What I Like
PepsiCo Foundation has selected Westchester Community College as only one of three community colleges in the U.S. to offer an exciting scholarship opportunity for Black and Hispanic WCC students transferring to a four-year college or university to pursue a Bachelor’s degree, with preference given to students in Business or STEM fields.
The Challenge:
- Black and Hispanic students are 50% less likely to earn a bachelors degree in a STEM field than are White students.
- Black and Hispanic representation in STEM fields is 50% lower than the overall rates of US working professionals.
- African Americans accounted for just 3% of executive and senior-level positions within private industry
The Opportunity:
PepsiCo Foundation is supporting two scholarship programs to address the problem of minority underrepresentation in high-demand fields. The S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship (Success Matters in Life & Education) targets Black and Hispanic students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree, with preference given to students in Business or STEM fields.

PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E.
Success Matters In Life and Education
- For Black and Hispanic students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree, with preference given to students pursuing one of eligible STEM or business majors at their transfer college (see list below)
- Ten WCC students will receive a transfer award of $25,000 per year ($50,000 total per student)
- 2.75 GPA or higher required
- Must plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S. for the entire upcoming academic year
Live application window:
January 17, 2022 through February 28, 2022 11:59pm CT
The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. (Success Matters in Life & Education) Scholarship is designed to help students transition from designated partner community colleges to four-year colleges and universities. This program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Awards are granted without regard to creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability, or national origin.
2022 PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship : Eligible Majors
STEM Majors
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Biochemistry and Biophysics
- Biology, General
- Cell/Cellular Biology
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Food Sciences and Technology
- Horticulture Science
- Natural Resources Conservation, General
- Natural Resources Management
- Physical Sciences, General
- Physics
- Science Education
- Actuarial Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Business/Management Quantitative Methods, General
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Computer Network/Telecommunications
- Computer Science and Programming
- Computer Software and Media Application
- Computer System Administration
- Data Management Technology
- Information Science
- Information Technology
- Management Information Systems
- Mathematics Education
- Mathematics, General
- Statistics
- Webpage Design
- Food and Nutrition
- Agricultural/Bioengineering
- Automotive Engineering Technology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Civil Engineering Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Engineering Technology
- Drafting/CAD Technology, General
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communication Engineering
- Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology
- Electromechanical/Biomedical Engineering Technology
- Engineering (Pre-Engineering), General
- Engineering Technology, General
- Environmental Control Technologies
- Environmental Health Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Industrial Production Technologies
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Quality Control and Safety Technologies
Business Majors:
- Business Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Retail Management
- Marketing
- Finance
- Operations Management
- International Business
- Sales Operations
- Accounting
- Small Business Administration
- Management Science
- Office Management
- Management Information Systems
- Human Resources Management
- Logistics & Supply Chain Management
- Project Management
- Agribusiness
- Special Products Marketing Operations
- Organizational Leadership
- Accounting Technology & Bookkeeping
Need help? Reach out:
Student Questions?
Need help with essay? WCC Academic Support Center’s Writing tutors can help!