College of Engineering News Room
Turning a Lottery Windfall into Opportunities for Others
By Brad Stager
A University of South Florida alumnus is sharing his multi-million-dollar lottery winnings with the College of Engineering to help financially support students there.
When the constitutional amendment authorizing Florida鈥檚 lottery passed in 1986, the aim was to help fund public education through the revenue it generates. Now Tampa business owner Krishna Barri, '03, winner of $14.5 million in a December 2018 Lotto drawing, is pitching in with a $500,000 gift to create three fellowships for PhD students in the college鈥檚 Department of Electrical Engineering where he earned his master鈥檚 degree.
Barri says the large philanthropic gift is payback for the support he received when he began his graduate studies in 2000. Most importantly, according to Barri, that help included work as a research assistant to Professor Chris Ferekides, who is now the interim chair of the Electrical Engineering Department.
鈥淚f he didn鈥檛 provide that job to me it would have been a disaster,鈥� he says, adding that paying his way for three years also involved other campus jobs like working in the bookstore and the then-named Sundome arena鈥檚 parking lot.
When Barri, an occasional lottery player, realized he won millions of dollars from one of 10 tickets he bought at a local grocery store there was no hesitation as to what to do with some of the money.
鈥淚 immediately thought about Chris,鈥� he said, because 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to change my lifestyle, I want to change people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
That kind of response to such good fortune did not surprise Ferekides who kept in touch with his former student since Barri graduated.
鈥淗e was ready (to give) before he won it,鈥� said Ferekides.
After earning his master鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering, Barri found communication systems work with Verizon. He then co-founded W-B Solutions, an IT services and staffing company in Tampa, in 2012. His company has grown to employ more than 100 people.
While Barri has accomplished considerable professional success, it wasn鈥檛 his original plan. He intended to pursue his PhD to conduct research and teach, but the need to earn a living took precedence, so his academic dreams were put on hold.
鈥淲hat he couldn鈥檛 have, he鈥檚 making possible for others,鈥� said Ferekides.
The fellowships are named in honor of Barri鈥檚 parents Nageswara Rao and Tulasi Barri, and his brother-in-law Raghavendra Rao Palepu, all of whom he credits for his success.
Originally from Visakhapatnam, India, Barri also gave $500,000 to support students in his home country.
Helping others achieve their goals is an act that aligns with what Barri values in life.
鈥淓ducation is the greatest gift you can give somebody,鈥� Barri said.