Two seniors from Martin High School are officially on their way to becoming engineers after being selected as Amazon Future Engineer Scholars, one of the most competitive STEM scholarships in the country.
Months after submitting their applications, Tuyet Do and Julia Tran were surprised with the news during a guest speaker presentation in class. What began as a routine visit quickly became a moment they’ll never forget, as the speaker announced that both students had been selected as scholarship recipients.
The Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship provides up to $40,000 in college funding and a paid internship at Amazon after the students’ freshman year of college. With thousands of applicants nationwide, earning this recognition is a major accomplishment.
“This scholarship has definitely given us a head start,” Tran said. “I’ve been struggling with finances and looking for scholarships, trying to find ways to afford college. Now, I can tell my parents that we don’t have to worry about money.”
Tran discovered her passion for engineering through Martin’s drone team. She helped build drones from the ground up, gaining hands-on experience that set her apart in the competitive scholarship process. She is currently taking classes at the University of Texas at Arlington and completing an internship.
“I had no idea, so when I heard that I won AFE I was really happy,” Do said.
Do is a member of the school’s HACK Club, where she explores coding, programming, and logistics. Last summer, she used her artistic talent to create visuals for a club event. She says blending creativity with technical skill is a combination that helped her application shine.
“Julia and Tuyet are guaranteed incredible paying jobs after their first year of college and will be able to continue to build their resumes as they work on their degrees,” said James Hovey, computer science teacher at Martin. “I am very proud of both of them and cannot wait to see where their journeys will take them.”
Congratulations, Julia and Tuyet!