Orange High School senior Natalya Garza Morales is a 2024 recipient of a $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer scholarship and an offer for a paid summer Amazon internship. Garza Morales was surprised with a special Amazon delivery in front of her family, teacher and classmates.
“(This scholarship) represents so many opportunities and avenues that have opened up to me now,” shared Garza Morales after opening the Amazon package with the scholarship announcement. “This scholarship means the world to me. It was a shot in the dark for me to apply, and for me to actually get it is absolutely crazy; that’s life-changing money.”
Amazon’s Future Engineer scholarship program is a comprehensive childhood-to-career program aimed at increasing access to computer science education. Students are selected for the program based on a number of criteria, including their academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities, work experience and future goals.
Garza Morales was nominated by her Orange High School German teacher, Kelly Jessup, who shared, “Natalya is a truly exceptional individual who embodies the qualities that every educator hopes to see in their students. Her kindness, creativity, wisdom, and passion for culture set her apart as a remarkable young person. I have no doubt that Natalya’s bright light will continue to shine as she embarks on her college journey and beyond.”
Launched in 2019, the scholarship program awards college-bound seniors a scholarship of up to $40,000 (up to $10,000/year) towards an undergraduate degree in engineering or computer science. To date, Amazon has awarded $54 million in scholarships to 1,350 students across the country; in addition to a scholarship toward their college education, recipients are also invited to complete a paid summer internship at Amazon.
Submitted by Olentangy Schools.
