SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– At this time, Amazon introduced it’s increasing its pc science schooling program, Amazon Future Engineer, to greater than 5,000 faculties, benefitting over 550,000 college students in want annually. The enlargement greater than doubles Amazon Future Engineer’s attain, including greater than 3,000 new faculties throughout the U.S. Almost all Amazon Future Engineer faculties serve a pupil physique with a major proportion of scholars from teams at present underrepresented in pc science and tech, a whole bunch of faculties are rural, and greater than 80% are Title I faculties. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon Future Engineer coursework might be achieved nearly to assist guarantee college students keep on observe and proceed to organize for the roles of the longer term.

“The beginning of this new college yr is not like any earlier than, with college students, mother and father, and lecturers adjusting to distant studying,” mentioned Jeff Wilke, CEO Worldwide Shopper, Amazon. “This can be a problem for all college students, however notably these from underserved and underrepresented communities. We’re hopeful that our Amazon Future Engineer coursework, which adapts simply to a digital setting, will proceed to equip these hard-working college students with the talents they’ll want—and that society will want—for a shiny future.”

Even earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau of Labor Statistics initiatives that from 2014 to 2024, the marketplace for pc science professionals will develop twice as quick as the remainder of the labor market and, in 2019, the median annual wage for pc science occupations was roughly $48,000 larger than the median wage for all occupations within the U.S. What’s extra, whereas the variety of Black college students acquiring STEM levels has elevated during the last twenty years, Black professionals stay underrepresented inside American science and engineering enterprises. The Nationwide Science Board (NSB) estimates that the variety of Black professionals in science and engineering should greater than double to be consultant of Black folks within the U.S. inhabitants in 2030.

“I’m very excited that Amazon Future Engineer is in 14 excessive faculties and 5 elementary faculties in and round my district of Matteson, IL. By exposing our younger folks to enjoyable and leading edge engineering and pc science, we are able to spark a lifelong curiosity and curiosity in them that opens the door to fulfilling careers,” mentioned Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “I’m hopeful that applications like these will result in a tech workforce that higher represents America.”

“This fall has led to large modifications in educating and studying for all of us,” mentioned Lisa Bagley, Amazon Future Engineer Trainer of the Yr Award Recipient, from West Mesquite Excessive College in Texas. “My district has returned to highschool in a digital setting, and the pliability of getting our Amazon Future Engineer pc science curriculum accessible on-line anytime, anyplace has given me much-needed help and consistency in a world of plenty of unknowns. For my college students, it’s particularly essential that they’ll keep on observe throughout this difficult time. It’s changing into increasingly clear that the talents they’re selecting up of their pc science coursework shall be important to no matter profession they select to pursue.”

Amazon’s funding will help greater than 1,000 elementary faculties and greater than 4,000 center and excessive faculties with high-quality pc science programs, on-line help, and trainer skilled growth. Amazon Future Engineer’s enlargement to elementary faculties helps bridge fairness talent gaps at a important age, when college students are simply starting to formulate concepts about their futures.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon workers are volunteering nearly in Amazon Future Engineer lecture rooms, speaking to the scholars in regards to the significance of their very own pc science schooling. Amazon Future Engineer additionally launched the Amazon Cyber Robotics Problem – a free, digital, first of its variety coding competitors that teaches college students the fundamentals of pc science within the context of a real-life trade problem. Academics from Title I faculties who full this competitors may even be eligible at no cost, expanded digital robotics classes to additional help their college students whereas they study from dwelling.

Along with supporting pc science schooling, Amazon is supporting communities in a variety of how in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The corporate has donated greater than 13,000 laptops to college students in want, distributed greater than $5 million value of Amazon units to assist healthcare employees and nonprofits, delivered greater than 6 million meals throughout 25 U.S. cities, launched free, digital pc science sources for 1000’s of scholars, donated greater than $20 million to assist speed up COVID-19 analysis, donated $10 million in critically wanted PPE provides, and extra. To study extra about what Amazon is doing in response to COVID-19 for communities, workers, companions, and clients, take a look at the Amazon Weblog: Day One.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by 4 ideas: buyer obsession slightly than competitor focus, ardour for invention, dedication to operational excellence, and long-term pondering. Buyer critiques, 1-Click on procuring, personalised suggestions, Prime, Achievement by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Hearth tablets, Hearth TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are among the services pioneered by Amazon. For extra info, go to amazon.com/about and comply with @AmazonNews.

About Amazon Future Engineer

Amazon Future Engineer intends to encourage, educate, and put together kids and younger adults from underrepresented and underserved communities to pursue pc science. This system is a part of Amazon’s $50 million funding in pc science and STEM schooling. As well as, Amazon Future Engineer has donated greater than $20 million to organizations that promote pc science and STEM schooling throughout the nation. Annually, Amazon Future Engineer goals to encourage 550,000 Okay-12 college students throughout greater than 5,000 faculties to discover pc science by way of elementary college curriculum, center and highschool programs, and trainer skilled growth; awards 100 college students with four-year $10,000 scholarships, in addition to provides assured and paid Amazon internships to realize work expertise; awards $25,000 Amazon Future Engineer Trainer of the Yr Awards, and kinds distinctive partnerships with trusted establishments to convey new coding experiences to college students.

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