HARTFORD, Conn. — Six Connecticut high school seniors have been chosen as Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship recipients for 2025.
Each student will receive up to $40,000 in scholarship money over the next four years to pursue degrees in computer science or engineering, according to an Amazon release. The students will also experience a paid internship at Amazon after their freshman year of college.
The Connecticut students who were selected include:
–Namyanzi Edwards from the Academy of Aerospace and Engineering in Windsor will study data science at Columbia University
–David Matos from New Milford High School will study computer science in college
–Dorian Mitchell from the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering in Stamford will attend Northeastern University to study computer science
–Katelin Zhao from Westhill High School in Stamford will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and study computer science
–Danny Zheng from Middletown High School will study computer science at Yale University
–A sixth, unnamed recipient from Bridgeport’s Information Technology & Software Engineering Magnet High School will attend the University of California Irvine to study computer science
Amazon chose the recipients based on their academic achievements, demonstrated leadership, school and community participation, work experience, future goals and financial need. Scholarship America helped Amazon review applications and chose the recipients.
Jerome Smith, Amazon’s senior manager for community engagement in New England, said on behalf of over 15,000 Amazon employees in Connecticut, he is proud to congratulate the talented students who were selected.
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“Our Future Engineer scholarships combine financial support with hands-on internship experience because we believe every young person deserves the chance to pursue their aspirations,” Smith said.
Smith added that he is inspired by this year’s recipients. He looks forward to seeing how they’ll innovate in their communities for years to come.
According to Chris DiPentima, president and CEO of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, the scholarships represent the type of strategic investment in talent that enhances Connecticut’s competitive position in the global economy.
“Employers across the state recognize the critical importance of developing a robust STEM pipeline,” DiPentima said. “Programs that connect students with both education funding and hands-on industry experience create pathways to high-demand careers while ensuring Connecticut remains a leader in technology innovation.”
The Amazon Future Engineer program strives to strengthen student access to computer science through multiple avenues.
The Amazon release notes that while computer science is the fastest-growing STEM profession – and is projected to grow 15% between 2021 and 2031 – only 11% of STEM graduates earn computer science degrees.
Since the program was established in 2019, Amazon has given $66 million to 1,650 students from historically underserved communities. This includes a $16 million commitment to paid college tuition in 2025 alone.
Over the past 15 years, Amazon has invested approximately $9.5 billion in Connecticut. In addition to creating over 15,000 full- and part-time jobs, the company also supports 17,100 jobs in the state indirectly.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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