Arlington Martin High School senior awarded $40,000 Amazon scholarship
Ruth Hong, a senior at Martin High School in Arlington, is one of 100 students nationwide who was awarded a $40,000 scholarship and 12-week paid internship at Amazon next summer.
Hong is the second student from the Arlington high school to be awarded the Amazon Future Engineer College Scholarship in the last two years. Last year, Chijioke Mgbahurike was one of the selected students — which inspired Hong to apply. The school district said Hong set a calendar reminder a year in advance to apply.
“I’m a dreamer with big aspirations, so I made sure to tailor my high school experience to be able to reach all of my goals,” Hong said in a news release from Arlington ISD. “I like to make plans and go after them relentlessly. That’s just how I am.”
The Martin senior is the president of the school’s computer science club, vice president of Key Club, and a member of the school’s swim team, National Honor Society and Library Youth Ambassadors.
“Ruth is always willing to help out and mentor younger students,” STEM Academy Coordinator Marianne Varner said. “She’s aware everything is not just about her, and it’s amazing to see someone at her age give so much of themselves to others.”
Hong plans to attend Minerva University and study computer science in the fall. She’ll be able to travel and study in a different country every semester, including Korea, Germany and Taiwan.
Hong said she’s not only excited about her future in college and with Amazon, but that “she’s looking forward to learning more about technology so she can help disadvantaged communities in the future.”
“Instant relief swept over me while I realized all of my hard work paid off,” Hong said. “I wouldn’t have made it to this point without the STEM Academy. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be recognized by Amazon and for my support system at Martin. It’s truly the perfect end to my senior year.”
This story was originally published May 6, 2022 at 10:32 AM.
