Cupertino Student Awarded $40K From Amazon To Study Computer Science

CUPERTINO, CA — Fourteen students from historically underserved Bay Area communities — including one currently attending Cupertino High School — will receive a $40,000 scholarship from Amazon to study computer science, the company announced.

The students will receive the funds over four years to study at a college of their choice beginning this fall.

Cupertino's Albert Chang has committed to UC Santa Cruz.

“We are inspired by the talent and work ethic of our Amazon Future Engineer HDE Scholarship recipients, and look forward to seeing them at their Amazon internships,” said Victor Reinoso, global director of Amazon’s philanthropic education initiatives.

The recipients after completing their freshman year will be eligible for a paid 12-week Amazon Lab126 internship, where the wiz kids will get hands-on experience and mentorship from Amazon leaders. The lab is known for innovations such as the Amazon Echo and Kindle e-readers.

Awards are given based on a variety of criteria, including academic achievement, participation in school and community activities, work experience, future goals, financial need, and demonstrated interest and exemplary skill in hardware, robotics, and/or mechanical engineering, according to Amazon.

The new scholarship is the latest effort from Amazon Future Engineer, the company’s philanthropic computer science education program.

“These opportunities are imperative to help students understand career possibilities at a place like Amazon and conceptualize their journey to the tech industry,” Reinoso said.

Below is a complete list of the award recipients.

Amazon Future Engineer’s 2022 Hardware Design & Engineering Scholars:

● Iman Burdine, Alameda, CA

Encinal High School

Committed to San Francisco State University

● Rodrigo Castro-Ruiz, San Jose, CA

Menlo Atherton High School

Committed to San José State University

● Albert Chang, Cupertino, CA

Cupertino High School

Committed to University of California, Santa Cruz

● Marcellina Chang, Daly City, CA

Westmoor High School

Committed to Stanford University

● Angel Hernandez Vega, Daly City, CA

Jefferson High School

Committed to University of California, Davis

● Giovanni Hernandez, San Mateo, CA

Junipero Serra High School

Committed to University of California, Santa Cruz

● Asilah Maryam, Fremont, CA

American High School

Committed to University of California, Los Angeles

● Jimin Park, Los Altos, CA

Los Altos High School

Committed to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

● Elisa Perez Massella, Mountain View, CA

Los Altos High School

Committed to San José State University

● Ria Rajput, Palo Alto, CA

Henry M. Gunn High School

Committed to University of California, Davis

● Jasmine Tostado, San Jose, CA

Eastside College Preparatory School

Committed to Stanford University

● Victor Wong, Daly City, CA

Westmoor High School

Committed to San José State University

● Wenhao Xu, Fremont, CA

American High School

Committed to Johns Hopkins University

● Diego Zepeda, East Palo Alto, CA

East Palo Alto Academy

Committed to De Anza Community College