Penn State Schuylkill has received a landmark philanthropic commitment from Thomas W. Wylonis, a scientist, educator, and entrepreneur.
As the largest individual donor in the campus’ history, Wylonis has made a new pledge to endow the Wylonis STEM Internship Fund, designed to support internship experiences for Penn State Schuylkill students pursuing STEM careers in the greater Schuylkill County area.
The Wylonis STEM Internship Fund will provide students with invaluable hands-on experience with companies and nonprofit organizations that generate jobs and promote economic growth in STEM fields.
“Through his mentorship, philanthropy, and leadership, Wylonis continues to shape the future of Penn State Schuylkill, ensuring that students have access to transformative learning experiences that prepare them for success in STEM and beyond,” said Cory Scherer, interim chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill. “His unwavering support has inspired us to aim higher for our campus, and his new gift to create the Wylonis STEM Internship Fund will help future technology leaders to follow in his footsteps.”
Wylonis's journey began at Penn State Schuylkill before he transferred to University Park. He later earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering and operations research from MIT and a doctoral degree in operations research from New York University. His early career flourished at Bell Telephone Laboratories, where he contributed to advancements in network optimization tools, Picturephone technology, and economic models for evaluating new products.
Wylonis later transitioned from engineering to business management consulting at McKinsey & Company, where he led the firm’s Scandinavian office. During his 26 years in Denmark, he became an angel investor and board leader for numerous high-tech startups. Returning to the U.S. in 2007, Wylonis re-engaged with Penn State and MIT, mentoring electrical engineering students and instructing MIT sophomores in leadership and interpersonal skills.
At Penn State Schuylkill, Wylonis has been an influential advisory board member and has played a key role in developing experiential learning programs in entrepreneurship and interpersonal skills. His philanthropic impact has been extensive: 24 students have benefited from the Wylonis Scholarship and Wylonis STEM Scholarship. In addition to financial support, Wylonis has personally mentored many of these scholarship recipients, fostering their academic and professional growth.
In recognition of his generosity, Wylonis has been honored in the Laurel Circle of the Mount Nittany Society, reserved for distinguished Penn State benefactors. He has also been a featured speaker at Penn State Schuylkill’s Blue and White Dinners in 2012 and 2016 and received the Penn State Alumni Association’s Alumni Fellow Award for his distinguished career and dedication to the University.