College Station Senior Student Wins Prestigious Amazon Scholarship, Summer Internship
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — In a remarkable achievement, a senior student at College Station High School, Cynthia Zhao, was recently surprised in her computer science class with a prestigious scholarship from Amazon. This scholarship includes up to $40,000 for her studies in computer science or engineering, along with a paid internship with Amazon following her freshman year.
Planning the Surprise
The surprise had been in planning for three weeks, with her teacher and the Amazon team working together to create the memorable event. Zhao was unaware that she was one of just 43 students in Texas and among 400 students nationwide who had secured this scholarship.
Pursuing a Career in STEM
Zhao, who has shown a keen interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), plans to further her studies in this field at Texas A&M University this Fall. Now, with this substantial scholarship, she can focus more on her education than on financial considerations.
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
The Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship, which Zhao won, came as a complete surprise. “I know I applied but I didn’t feel like it could be me,” Zhao said. Her computer science teacher, Kimberly Munoz, was contacted by Amazon to inform her that Zhao had won the scholarship. They promptly began planning a surprise event in the guise of a guest speaker visit to the class. On the day, the Amazon representatives walked over to Zhao and presented her with the good news, leaving her thrilled and the classroom buzzing.
This scholarship covers $40,000 for her studies and includes a paid internship at Amazon after her freshman year. “I already can imagine myself next summer, not going home, but going to Seattle for a week — that’s super exciting,” Zhao expressed.
Relieving Financial Worries
The Amazon scholarship is not only a testament to Zhao’s brilliance, but it’s also a huge financial relief for her family. “Financially, for my family, it’s a big help — I have a sister and now, with a scholarship, if I can get most of my tuition covered, then, my family can focus on hers,” said Zhao.
This scholarship win is a further testament to the significance that tech giants like Amazon are placing on fostering young talent and promoting education in the technological and engineering fields.