Amazon has named five recent Massachusetts high school graduates from Boston, Amherst, Braintree, Lexington, and Brockton as Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship recipients for 2026. Each will receive up to $40,000 over four years to pursue a degree in computer science or engineering at a college or university of their choice, along with the opportunity to pursue a paid internship at Amazon. They are among just 200 students selected nationwide.

The Massachusetts recipients are:

• Joseph Kasongo, Quincy Upper School, Boston — will attend Washington University to pursue an engineering degree.

• Ajmain Sharar, Amherst Regional High School, Amherst — will attend the University of Michigan to pursue an engineering degree.

• Olutayo “Tayo” Oyewusi, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, Brockton — will attend Princeton University to pursue an engineering degree.

• Thantham “AJ” Jittham, CATS Academy Boston, Braintree — will attend Cornell University to pursue a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

• A fifth Massachusetts scholarship recipient from Lexington High School.

Recipients were selected based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities, work experience, future goals, and financial need. Amazon partnered with Scholarship America to review applications and select this year’s scholars.

Engineering is among the fastest-growing professions within the STEM fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the market for engineering occupations will grow up to 11% between 2024 and 2034, yet only 24.3% of STEM graduates earn an engineering degree, and only a small percentage of those come from underserved communities.

Amazon Future Engineer aims to increase student access to computer science and engineering education by funding high-quality curriculum and educator professional development, in turn helping school districts build sustainable K–12 initiatives. In addition to its scholarship program, Amazon Future Engineer offers virtual class chats, Career Tours, and project-based learning modules that bring role models into classrooms.

Amazon launched the scholarship program in 2019, awarding more than $70 million to over 1,700 students from historically underserved communities across the U.S. This year, Amazon committed up to $8 million in college tuition.

Amazon in Massachusetts 

• Since 2010, Amazon has invested $35 billion+ in Massachusetts, contributing $30 billion+ to the state’s GDP and supporting 24,000+ full- and part-time jobs. Amazon supports 20,000+ indirect jobs in Massachusetts in industries such as construction, logistics, and professional services.

• In 2025, Amazon donated $10 million+ to 80 local community organizations and delivered 800K+ meals on behalf of food banks and nonprofits.

• Over 2,300 Massachusetts employees have participated in Career Choice since 2019. Amazon’s upskilling program prepays tuition, books, and fees for front-line employees, building skills for in-demand careers through college degrees, industry certifications, and high school completion programs. Amazon partners with Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, Bristol Community College, Middlesex Community College, Northern Essex Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, and University of Massachusetts Boston.

• Independent sellers in Massachusetts average $305,000+ in annual sales, with 77 million+ items sold through Amazon’s store.