Amazon Awards Scholarships and Internships to Six Connecticut Students
Six Connecticut high school seniors have been selected as Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship recipients for 2025. Each student will receive up to $40,000 in scholarship funding over four years to pursue degrees in computer science or engineering. The award also includes a paid internship at Amazon following their freshman year of college.
The selected Connecticut students are:
- Namyanzi Edwards from the Academy of Aerospace and Engineering in Windsor, who will study data science at Columbia University
- David Matos from New Milford High School, who will study computer science
- Dorian Mitchell from the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering in Stamford, who will attend Northeastern University to study computer science
- Katelin Zhao from Westhill High School in Stamford, who will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study computer science
- Danny Zheng from Middletown High School, who will study computer science at Yale University
- A sixth recipient from Bridgeport’s Information Technology & Software Engineering Magnet High School, who will attend the University of California Irvine to study computer science
Amazon chose the recipients based on their academic achievements, demonstrated leadership, community involvement, work experience, future goals, and financial need. Scholarship America assisted Amazon in reviewing applications and selecting the recipients.
“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,” said Jerome Smith, Amazon’s senior manager for community engagement in New England. Smith expressed pride on behalf of over 15,000 Amazon employees in Connecticut in congratulating the talented students.
The Amazon Future Engineer program aims to strengthen student access to computer science education. While computer science is the fastest-growing STEM profession, projected to grow 15% between 2021 and 2031, only 11% of STEM graduates earn computer science degrees. Since its establishment in 2019, Amazon has given $66 million to 1,650 students from historically underserved communities.
Chris DiPentima, president and CEO of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, noted that the scholarships represent a strategic investment in talent that enhances Connecticut’s competitive position in the global economy. “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,” DiPentima said.
Over the past 15 years, Amazon has invested approximately $9.5 billion in Connecticut, creating over 15,000 full- and part-time jobs and supporting an additional 17,100 jobs in the state indirectly.
