Reflecting on the Future Builders STEM Scholarship Program: A Chapter Closes

After seven remarkable years of discovering and supporting exceptional young talent, the Future Builders STEM Scholarship Program has officially concluded. This decision comes as we prepare to redirect our resources toward emerging initiatives that will continue serving the technology community in new and meaningful ways.

Launched in 2019, this bi-annual program was established with a clear mission: to identify and empower the next generation of innovators across science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and emerging digital disciplines. What began as an effort to support a handful of promising students evolved into a platform that received hundreds of applications from universities across the United States.

Celebrating Our Past Recipients

Throughout the program’s tenure, we had the privilege of awarding $15,000 grants to students whose work demonstrated both technical depth and visionary thinking. Our past scholarship recipients include:

• Michael Torres (2020) — Submitted a compelling research essay on decentralized identity systems and their potential to reshape digital privacy in an increasingly connected world.
• Sarah Chen (2022) — Explored the intersection of blockchain technology and sustainable supply chains, presenting innovative frameworks for carbon credit verification.
• David Okonkwo (2024) — Delivered an outstanding analysis of zero-knowledge proofs and their applications in protecting user data while maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Emily Richardson (2025) — Presented forward-thinking research on tokenized real-world assets and the democratization of investment opportunities.

Each of these individuals brought unique perspectives that challenged conventional thinking and offered fresh approaches to complex technological problems.

A Rewarding Experience

Reviewing the essays submitted over the years proved to be both challenging and deeply fulfilling. The depth of research, the clarity of thought, and the genuine passion for technological advancement that students demonstrated consistently exceeded expectations. From detailed explorations of smart contract security to thoughtful examinations of decentralized governance models, every submission offered valuable insights into how young minds perceive and approach the challenges facing our industry.

We were particularly moved by the diversity of perspectives represented in the applicant pool. Students from engineering programs, computer science departments, economics faculties, and even liberal arts backgrounds brought their unique viewpoints to questions about technology’s role in society. This cross-disciplinary engagement reinforced our belief that the most meaningful innovations emerge when different fields of knowledge converge.

Looking Ahead

While the Future Builders Scholarship Program has reached its conclusion, our commitment to education and community development remains unchanged. The decision to wrap up this initiative reflects a strategic shift toward new programs and partnerships that will allow us to support the technology ecosystem in different ways. Details about these upcoming initiatives will be shared in the coming months.

The experience of running this program for seven years has taught us invaluable lessons about what motivates young technologists, what challenges they face, and what support they need to thrive. These insights will inform everything we do moving forward.

Stay Connected for Future Opportunities

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Our Gratitude

To every student who took the time to research, write, and submit an application — thank you. Your willingness to share your ideas, your vision for the future, and your personal perspectives on technology’s potential made this program worthwhile. Even if you were not selected as a recipient, please know that your contribution was valued and that your voice was heard.

We leave this chapter with confidence that the future of technology is in capable, thoughtful, and innovative hands. The dedication we witnessed from students across the country gives us genuine optimism about what lies ahead for the industry and for society at large.