Amazon announced Tuesday that two STEM Early College High School students from Harlandale ISD had been given a scholarship and a paid internship with the corporation.
Andres Caracheo and Nicholas Farnsworth each won a $40,000 scholarship to study computer science, engineering, or a related profession at their preferred college or institution, as well as a paid internship following their freshman year, Amazon announced.
“I didn’t know I was going to get it, but it’s one of the scholarships I really wanted,” Caracheo, a senior said. “Thank you to the whole team, my parents, the whole staff. Y’all are really a big part of this.”
Amazon stated that the duo were chosen based on a number of factors, including academic achievement, shown leadership, participation in school and community organizations, work experience, future objectives, and financial need. They are among 43 high school students in Texas and 400 overall from underserved communities around the country to receive the scholarships.
“I want to thank everyone who’s been here. Most of the people who have been a humungous impact on my life are standing in this room right now, specifically my mom and my dad, y’all have been a tremendous part of my life. This was the scholarship I was hoping to get. I put a lot of work into it, and every step I’ve taken has been along with friends and people who believed in me,” Farnsworth said.
According to the company, the scholarship allows students to gain hands-on, practical work experience while being mentored by Amazon leaders, as well as access to skills development and mental health resources, an emergency grant fund for unexpected financial obligations that may prevent them from attending school, and networking opportunities with their peers and Amazon employees.
“Our scholarship recipients’ unwavering dedication to academic excellence and their passion for leveraging technology to uplift communities is truly inspiring,” Victor Reinoso, global director of education philanthropy at Amazon said. “By investing in computer science education for students from historically underrepresented and underserved communities, we’re not only empowering them to pursue rewarding careers but also equipping them with skills to drive innovation that will shape a more equitable and sustainable future for generations to come.”
