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< Back Vansh Kumar Vansh began working at Google in 2016 as a software engineer, and worked at Verily Life Sciences as a software engineering manager from 2021 to 2024. He is currently on a break from work to explore his interests. He earned a BS in Applied Computational Mathematics and Computer Science from Caltech. Committee Affiliation: Finance Committee Previous Next

< Back Liz Jackman Associate Director of Student Programs Liz joined the Caltech Y in 2010 while obtaining her Master's degree in College Counseling and Student Development from Azusa Pacific University. She worked as a teacher for four years in Japan prior to joining the Y. She is very committed to finding ways to partner with and better serve the community of Pasadena.

perspective “With all the academic rigor and intensity at Caltech, the Y has been a rare, refreshing gem centered around enhancing student life. The Caltech Y has been an essential and inspiring reminder for me to take a step back and realize that we have a role to play in our communities and that we all have the capacity to touch lives and be global with our outreach and impact.” - Rupa Kurinchi-Vendhan, BS ’24, Student ExComm President what your gift supports leadership "The Caltech Y was my first volunteer board service, and little did I guess at the time that I was destined to be a social sector leader and sit on nonprofit boards! Like many college students, I knew I wanted to be engaged in society, and the Y offered multiple avenues for exploring that interest. . . that's why I love the Caltech Y - Jim Fruchterman, BS ’80, MacArthur Fellowship Recipient service "The Rise Program is why I'm going to college. It gave me confidence in how I learn. I can learn slower. In classes you get it or you fail." - Alondra Flores, 2017 Rise Program Graduate adventure "By the end of my freshman year, the Caltech Y recruited me to join the Backpacking Trip before an alumni event. I was from Iowa. I’d never been backpacking in my life. Thanks to the Y leaders – I was hooked! By the end of the summer, I was leading the Y-Hike, and heading up the new Caltech Y Outdoors Committee the next year. That passion led me to rock climbing – nearly 10 years later, I’m still climbing with friends I made through the Caltech Y." - Katie Homann, BS ‘04, ER Physician perspective “With all the academic rigor and intensity at Caltech, the Y has been a rare, refreshing gem centered around enhancing student life. The Caltech Y has been an essential and inspiring reminder for me to take a step back and realize that we have a role to play in our communities and that we all have the capacity to touch lives and be global with our outreach and impact.” - Rupa Kurinchi-Vendhan, BS ’24, Student ExComm President Civic engagement "We’ve hosted various events, like community service trips both locally and around the world, as well as talks and discussions with local leaders. Through all these events, we hope to serve our student community by introducing complexity, richness, and purpose to the short few years we spend here in Pasadena. It’s these experiences that make the difficulty of academics at Caltech turn into a human one." - Albert Kyi, BS ’23, Former Student ExComm President ways you can donate Online Donate online. Easy, secure, and it only takes a couple of minutes! DONATE NOW By Mail We accept your donations via snail mail, too! Download, complete, and print the remittance form and send it to our mailing address. The Caltech Y MC: C1-128 Pasadena, CA 91125 REMITTANCE FORM Planned Giving Planned giving is as easy as (1) making a charitable gift, and (2) saving on taxes. We’d like to make it even easier with this introduction to some of the best ways to give and save. Check out all of your options below. MAKE A PLANNED GIFT Other Giving Other easy giving options are made simple with Every.org, click below to give using Venmo, Zelle, Paypal, or directly transfer stock gifts. GIVING OPTIONS Anchor 1 New Giving options We are so excited to announce our new process to gift non-cash options to the Caltech Y! Planned giving is as easy as (1) making a charitable gift, and (2) saving on taxes. We’d like to make it even easier with this introduction to some of the best ways to give and save. To make these gifts we will be using Every.org, click the button below to get started. DONATE NOW For further assistance with your gift please contact Athena Castro, the Caltech Y Executive Director (athena@caltech.edu | 626-395-6163) or your financial advisor Here are some of the options to give: Q ualified Charitable Distributions (QCD): The Caltech Y encourages those eligible to make Qualified Charitable Distributions from eligible personal IRAs once Minimum Required Distributions begin. QCDs must be made directly by the trustee of the IRA to the charity and comply with all United States IRS rules. Charitable IRA Rollover: The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act renews a temporary provision that allows donors age 70½ or older to make a direct, tax-free rollover of up to $100,000 from a traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified charitable organization such as Caltech Y; please check current IRS guidelines. Gifts of Stock: If a donor owns stock, it is more often tax-wise to contribute stock rather than cash. Gifts of Life Insurance: A gift of life insurance can provide a significant charitable deduction. Gifts of Real Estate: Gifts of real estate can also be tax-wise. Life Income Gifts: If donors own stock that is yielding low dividends (2-3%), a life-income gift may be appropriate. Charitable Lead Trusts: Charitable lead trusts are the reverse of the life-income gifts described above. The income from the trust is first paid to the Caltech Y as the charity’s interest leads the way (thus the name of the trust). Bequests: The Caltech Y can be named as a beneficiary in donors’ wills in any number of simple ways. An outright gift, either a designated dollar amount or percentage of an estate, can be specified. Marketable Securities: Marketable securities can offer capital gains benefits and maximize the impact of a gift by giving the full fair market value. Cryptocurrency: Gifts of cryptocurrency can help lower capital gains taxes and receiving a fair market value deduction, making it a highly efficient way to give. Other giving options united way matching Consider making the Caltech Y your affiliate choice during a United Way pledge drive at your workplace. If you are a Caltech employee, you may make a contribution to the annual campaign during late October and early November. The best part is that your donation will be matched 100% by the Institute. Your donation can be as simple as a monthly deduction from your paycheck. Please visit the Caltech Human Resources Dept. or contact the Caltech Y Development Office at 626-395-6163 for more information on how you can get started. Your contributions go a long way in supporting our mission! company matching The idea of company matching is incredibly simple. For example, if you give $100 to the Caltech Y as your annual contribution and your employer matches it, the end result is $200 to the Caltech Y. You have basically doubled your gift with very little work on your part. If you are interested, ask the Human Resources department at your workplace how you might add the Caltech Y to the current list of non-profit affiliates for matched giving. Call the Y Development Office for our tax ID number and help to get this program underway at your workplace. Ralphs rewards If you have a Ralphs Rewards card, you can support us while you shop at Ralphs! Once you register and signed in at www.ralphs.com , click on “Ralphs Community Contribution Program” at the bottom of the page and select “Caltech Y” or use our Organization Number “TG312” to designate us as your preferred charitable organization. Then swipe your registered Ralphs Rewards card or use the phone number linked to your card when shopping at Ralphs to contribute to the Caltech Y! Friend levels Supporter Friend Partner Patron Benefactor Wes Hershey Visionary $25 - $199 $200 - $499 $500 - $999 $1,000 - $2,499 $2,500 -$4,999 $5,000 - $9,999 $10,000 and up CONTACT US

< Back to all programs Hummel Gray Award $0 UG or G | Applications for 25-26 are now closed. Up to $1,000 National, $2,000 International Go to conferences, present, gain leadership To Participate: https://forms.gle/JRAbGk87tTXWgyji7 About The Patrick Hummel and Harry Gray Travel Fund was initiated by Carla and Paul Hummel, along with Patrick Hummel (Caltech, BS, MS 2006), to honor Harry B. Gray on his 80th birthday. In response, Prof. Gray, the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry and Founding Director of the Beckman Institute, and his wife Shirley generously doubled the value of the fund. This award supports undergraduate and graduate travel that fosters professional and leadership development while broadening students' perspectives as responsible global citizens. It also celebrates the special relationship between Gray and Hummel families. Awards will be given to support: Travel to academic conferences for the purpose of presenting papers or actively participating in workshops, symposia Travel to professional conferences focused on developing students' leadership skills (e.g., National Conference for College Women Student Leaders) Travel to conferences/meetings that support the increased participation and impact of underrepresented groups in STEM fields (e.g., Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics, the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, etc.) Who is Eligible Applicants must be enrolled Caltech students in good academic standing. Applicants choosing an international destination must be 18 years or older. There is no age restriction for domestic destinations, however a parent/guardian will be expected to sign a waiver. Proposal Guidelines If you are an interested Caltech student who is in good academic standing, you should submit the itemized budget form with anticipated expenses and an application that provides: The requested demographic information. A concise written description of the paper to be presented or the nature of the academic or leadership activity being proposed, the purpose of the meeting, and how the meeting will further enhance your professional and leadership development. Added details, if travel is proposed. Acknowledgment of the agreements that recipients will be expected to sign. Application and Selection Process: A selection committee consisting of Caltech Y Board Members, students, faculty and/or staff will review proposals, identify and interview finalists, select the recipients, and determine award amounts based on need, and funding available. Partial funding may also-be offered. Criteria include the following: Does the applicant clearly demonstrate how the experience will enhance their professional and/or leadership development. Does it seem like the experience will provide a good opportunity to learn about, or engage in, what was proposed by the applicant? Is the proposed budget reasonable? Does the applicant distinguish herself or himself as someone who will engage in the cause or learn to be a new or important voice for the issue addressed? Awardee(s) cannot hold multiple travel awards (e.g. Bishop, San Pietro, ACT, etc). SURF students are not permitted to have other commitments during SURF, including evenings or weekends, however, activities before or after the SURF period are eligible. The proposed project can also be an extension of the SURF, but it must be distinct and not overlap in time with the SURF. What Awardees Receive Awardees may request $500 to $1,000 for domestic travel, or $1,000 to $2,000 to cover expenses including transportation (flights, trains, shuttles, taxis, tolls, travel insurance, visas, required vaccinations, etc.); lodgings (hotels, hotels, rental properties, etc.); relevant excursions (museums, monuments,, venues relevant to the proposal); and conference costs (registration and program fees for conferences, workshops, etc.). The selection committee will determine award amounts (may be full or partial funding) based on need, and funding available. Awards may also be taxable. Awards may have tax and financial aid implications. Students are advised to consult with a tax advisor and/or the financial aid office with any questions. What is required of Recipients Meet with Y staff to review and sign an agreement outlining expectations and deadlines in order to accept the award. Complete the proposed experience as outlined and approved by September 12th. Please note: Any changes to the proposed experience must be pre-approved. Submit a spending summary, including receipts, with each request for reimbursement. Submit a report sharing details on what was done, learned/gained from the experience, along with pictures, that can be shared with donors, and used for reports and promotional materials. Reports can be made in a mutually agreed upon format (for example, but not limited to - a written document, video presentation, blog post, interview, article for the Tech or the Caltech Y Newsletter, etc.) The deadline for submitting the trip report and spending summary/receipts is September 15th. Recipients may also be asked to give an optional presentation summarizing the experience to members of the Y Staff, Board of Directors, and/or donors, as well as interested students as available. Questions? The Caltech Y is here to help! Applicants with questions about the award or application process are encouraged seek input via phone 626-395-6163, email caltechy@caltech.edu , or in-person at the Caltech Y. Some Past Recipients: 2025 Chelsea Fox - Materials Today Conference - Spain 2025 Ana Jaramillo - Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers - Anaheim 2025 Hannah Dion-Kirschner - Goldschmidt 2025 conference in geochemistry - Czech Republic 2025 Sarah Uuan Ni Liaw - AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence - Philadelphia 2023 Abigail Jiang - Materials Research Society Spring 2023 Meeting (MRS) in San Francisco 2023 Winhao (Jerry) Xuan Cloud Zwei Con - Ringberg Castle in Germany 2023 Ailene Chan - Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting 2023 (VSS 2023) – St. Pete, Florida 2023 Ke Shi - Asian Meeting of the Econometric Society - Singapore 2023 Niyati Desai - Lorentz Center Optimal Exoplanet Imagers Workshop - Leiden, Netherlands 2023 Arnav Das - Statistical Field Theories 2023 Conference - Galileo Galilei Institute, Firenze, Italy 2023 RJ Chadha - 5th Annual North American Mass Spectrometry Summer School – Madison, WI 2022 Eitan Rapaport - Applied Superconductivity Conference - Honolulu 2022 Anwesha Das - European Conference on Visual Perception - The Netherlands The Caltech Y reserves the right to revoke the award at any point due to safety and security concerns or changes in recipient eligibility or proposal. To apply you must submit both the application and a budget. Previous Program Next Program

Board *Indicates student board member Nick von Gersdorff Board Chair Read More Cindy Bengtson Budzyn Advancement Co-Chair Read More Katie Clark Secretary Read More Ann Motrunich Marketing & Communications Co-Chair Read More Michele Judd Read More Leslie Maxfield Read More Arabella Camunez* Read More Shrishti Pankaj Kulkarni* Read More Lila Rodriguez-Acevez* Read More Kevin Maxwell Vice Chair Read More Portia Harris Advancement Co-Chair Read More Debbie Dison Hall Governance Chair Read More Mabell Garcia Paine Read More Jennifer Kowal Read More Doug Rees Read More Robert Joseph* Read More Rachel Tham* Read More Shrujana Kunnam* Student ExComm President Read More Michael Noll Treasurer Read More Mitch Aiken Marketing & Communications Co-Chair Read More Kevin Gilmartin Read More Vansh Kumar Read More Nate Thomas Read More Robert (Otis) Otieno* Read More Subham (Sub) Sahoo* Read More Legacy Leaders Council Melany Hunt Peter Hung Katie Homann Elisa Chiang Fred Clayton Phil Naecker The Legacy Leaders Council is an advisory committee comprised of former Caltech Y leaders who actively support and advance the Y's mission.

Board Chair < Back Nick von Gersdorff Board Chair Nick (MS ‘06) started his career in hydropower as an undergraduate student at Harvey Mudd analyzing critical infrastructure, which paved the way to his current position as Southern California Edison’s Chief Dam Safety Engineer. He is passionate about traveling and fostering green energy internationally and is currently working to develop hydropower in the country of Georgia. Committee Affiliation: Executive Committee, Ex-Officio Member on all committees Previous Next

< Back to all programs Geneva Global Policy ASB Trip $1,500 Saturday through Saturday | March 21 to 28 Applications Due: January 15 To Participate: https://go.caltechy.org/event/827 About J oin other Caltech Students on one of our non-traditional spring break experiences in Geneva, Switzerland. The trip will include visits and lectures in international organizations as well as the opportunity to explore this global city… not to mention making new friends with other Caltech students. Geneva is home to numerous international organizations like the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, among others. One of our stops will be the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) which operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world and is one of the biggest international collaborations in science. Since the Global Policy ASB Trip is scheduled during spring break, we understand that some may not want to return to Los Angeles - opting to stay in Geneva or travel from there to other destinations. All options include lodgings, most meals, educational discussions session... and, of course, the sites and experiences of this European city… with flights and ground transportation provided based on the option you choose. Questions may be directed to caltechy@caltech.edu or in person at the Caltech Y (505 South Wilson – next to the Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union). Previous Program Next Program

< Back Arabella Camunez* Arabella ('27) studies Chemical Engineering on the Sustainability track. She has a particular interest in nuclear energy and climate policy. On campus, Arabella is a member of Venerable House, part of the Caltech Christian Fellowship, a BoC Rep, and an enthusiastic participant in Glee club and theater productions. She is VP External member of the Y and has participated in and helped organize Make-a-Difference Day, the India Cultural Trip, and the Geneva Global Policy Trip. Committee Affiliation: Student ExComm, Communications & Marketing Committee Previous Next

Treasurer < Back Michael Noll Treasurer Mike was the Caltech Y’s outside financial accountant for over 20 years. After having sold his CPA practice and investment advisory firm, Mike is now a Licensed Private Professional Fiduciary. Mike has served in various capacities with the Rotary Club of Altadena, including Treasurer, Assistant Governor, and Club President. He is also the past-President and Treasurer of Convalescent Aid Society and High Point Academy. Committee Affiliation: Executive Committee, Finance Committee Previous Next

< Back to all programs Union Station Homeless Dinner Service Monthly | 5 - 9 pm | 412 Raymond Ave. To Participate: https://go.caltechy.org/events About Join us as we prepare and serve dinner to residents of Pasadena's Union Station Adult Center. Food and materials are provided. The Adult Center provides shelter, meals, and supportive services to more than 150 homeless men and women each year. Space is limited. Previous Program Next Program

< Back Jennifer Kowal Jennifer Kowal is a Vice President and Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. She works closely with wealthy individuals and families across Pasadena and the Greater Los Angeles area who seek an experienced advisor to guide them through the sophisticated financial decisions that help make the most of their opportunities at hand. Jenny’s substantial background in tax law and executive compensation is highly differentiating, and is the lens through which she carefully evaluates each client’s scenario across the many elements of wealth. She gets to know each family and their most meaningful goals, leveraging the intellectual strength and vast capabilities of J.P. Morgan to craft strategies in a team based and creative manner toward these important objectives. As a tax law professor for the past 20 years, Jenny has a talent for explaining complex topics in easily understood terms. She blends her strong technical skills with a persistent and deeply caring style to foster one-on-one relationships with clients and colleagues. Throughout a 25-year career, Jenny spent two decades as the Director of the Graduate Tax Program at LMU Loyola Law School. Previously, she was a lecturer and the Deputy Director of the International Tax Program at Harvard Law School. Jenny also practiced law with the firms of Irell & Manella in Los Angeles and Ropes & Gray in Boston, advising clients on the taxation of various business transactions, including cross-border, partnership and corporate structures. She joined J.P. Morgan for the opportunity to be part of a vibrant, collaborative culture that operates among the top of its profession. Jenny holds a B.S. with distinction from the University of Kansas and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. A longtime resident of South Pasadena, Jenny is proud to have raised her three children amid the welcoming environment of the area. She is a Girl Scout Leader who also likes to run, spend time with her friends and family, and read contemporary literary fiction. Committee Affiliation: Advancement Committee, Finance Committee Previous Next

< Back Robert (Otis) Otieno* Otis (’27) is an applied & computational mathematics undergrad at Caltech and a member of Blacker House. At Caltech, he has been a practitioner of AI tools for offices such as Tech Transfer and a researcher into homomorphic encryption for creation of full-on user privacy tools. When he is not researching or studying, he enjoys training Olympic weightlifting for fun, reading sci-fi stories and djembe drumming. His first contact with the Y was through Liz Jackman who was his first-year mentor. Through Liz, he attended some meetings and signed up to be a Rise Tutor at John Muir high school. He has also enjoyed programs such as ASB trips to Costa Rica and MAD(Make A Difference) day. His future aspirations for the Y are to expose more students to the Y and have them participate in its various programs, while also researching logistics into possible Y safaris to Africa as he patiently awaits to launch a community impact non-profit organization of his own back in his home country of Kenya. Committee Affiliation: Student ExComm, Finance Committee Previous Next