Amazon surprises Caddo Parish Magnet High School with a $10,000 donation to celebrate senior Guangjun Wang, who was recently selected as an Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship recipient.
Last month, Guangjun was surprised by his class when he learned he had been awarded a scholarship of $10,000 to study computer science or engineering at the U.S. college or university of his choice, starting this fall. He is among 400 students Amazon is awarding scholarships to this year, along with a paid internship offer at Amazon after their freshman year of college. This opportunity will allow eligible scholars to gain hands-on, practical work experience with mentorship from Amazon leaders. Through Amazon Future Engineer, our global philanthropic education initiative, each student will also receive skills development and mental health resources, access to an emergency grant fund for unexpected financial obligations that might prevent them from attending school, and networking opportunities with managers and their peers.
Recipients were chosen based on a variety of criteria, including their academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities, work experience, future goals, and financial need.
Computer science is the fastest-growing profession within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) field. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) projected the market for computer science occupations will grow 23% between 2022 and 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. Additionally, BLS reported the median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $100,530 in May 2022, more than twice the median annual wage for all occupations. Yet, the U.S. National Science Foundation reports that Black, Latino, and Native American (BLNA) students remain broadly underrepresented in STEM fields, representing only 26% of science and engineering bachelor's degrees.
“Thank you to Amazon for your commitment to fostering the next generation of computer scientists,” said Dr. T. Lamar Goree, Superintendent of Caddo Schools. “Empowering our students with exposure to STEM programs isn't just preparing them for the future, it's shaping it. By equipping them with these skills, we're not just opening doors, we're building bridges to endless career opportunities in the ever-evolving field of technology.”
Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon’s global philanthropic computer science education initiative, aims to increase student access to computer science education. The program funds high-quality STEM curriculum and educator professional learning to help school districts implement sustainable K–12 computer science initiatives. As part of this effort, Amazon funds the development of customized curriculum that accounts for the unique cultural perspectives, interests, and experiences of BLNA students. In addition to the Scholarship program, Amazon Future Engineer offers virtual career tours and project-based learning modules that bring role models to classrooms to help students explore careers of the future through real-world experiences.
Amazon launched the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship program in 2019, awarding hundreds of students annually with up to $40,000 over four years to pursue an undergraduate science or engineering degree. Amazon Future Engineer has committed $54 million in scholarships to 1,350 students from underserved and historically underrepresented communities across the U.S. since the program’s inception.