High school graduate earns big after completing ASU Cloud Foundations course

As the world leans into digital, the demand for cloud-based services is booming. In 2023, the global cloud computing market is projected to hit $592.8 billion, a leap from last year's $490.3 billion, according to Gartner. 

While these numbers might evoke images of endless server farms and sophisticated data centers, they also frame a deeply human story — the story of high school student Blessing Yeboah.

On an ordinary day in New York City, the Manhattan Village Academy senior discovered an unexpected surprise in an Amazon box: a confirmation of her $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship. 

“The box sat in my living room overnight — I wasn’t expecting anything from Amazon and I didn’t bother to check who it was for,” said Yeboah. “The next day, when I finally got around to opening it, I saw the congratulations letter with the scholarship amount and started crying tears of joy.”

Last semester, Yeboah participated in CIS 194 Cloud Foundations, a course delivered by Arizona State University, while in her senior year of high school in NYC. 

The online course was co-developed by ASU’s Enterprise Technology and W.P. Carey School of Business, along with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the National Education Equity Lab. The class offers an opportunity for high school students — targeting those who attend Title I or disadvantaged schools — to earn high school and college credit, as well as an industry certificate, in cloud computing.

Learn more about the Cloud Foundations course. 

Known for its hands-on approach to cloud computing, the course matched Yeboah’s passion for coding and cybersecurity. Alongside the technical skills, the program helped her develop essential skills, such as effective note-taking and critical analysis, preparing her for the autonomy of online college courses.

“The class is taught online and as the student, I held all of the responsibility in making sure my work was done on time,” she said. “It exposed me to what it would be like to take an online course for college.”

The course uses the learning platforms, such as Canvas and Zoom, to engage with students on weekly assignments and quizzes, making it accessible to students directly from their school’s computer labs and homes.

Now heading into its fifth semester, the synchronous program has reached over 1,100 high school students nationwide, offering an in-depth exploration of cloud computing. 

W.P. Carey Professors Raghu Santanam and Jason Nichols co-teach the course, along with Enterprise Technology’s Deputy chief information officer John Rome. 

“The careers of the future are calling out for cloud computing champions,” Rome said. “Even as high schoolers, embarking on the journey of cloud technology today can ignite passions and set the stage for an exhilarating and impactful tech-driven tomorrow.”

Although the course itself does not provide scholarships, Yeboah’s mentors and teaching assistants encouraged her to utilize her newly acquired skills to earn the $40,000 Amazon scholarship.

Yeboah’s scholarship represents not only her hard work and dedication but also serves as an encouraging sign — high school students are acknowledging the value of tech skills. 

“I believe that as cloud computing becomes more common, human innovation will drastically improve and tech operations will become more efficient and reliable,” she said. “I’m looking forward to applying these skills professionally one day.”

Yeboah plans to use her scholarship to pursue a computer science degree before applying for an MBA, with the ambition to eventually take a leadership role in a major tech company. Her journey shows how programs like ASU’s Cloud Foundations course can help shape student futures in the ever-evolving technology field.

Yeboah’s experience encapsulates the educational potential and limitless possibilities of technical programs. It’s a call to action for future tech leaders to take advantage of opportunities like the ASU Cloud Foundations course.

“Cloud computing is a well-multifaceted field and there are endless possibilities for what the future holds for me,” Yeboah said.

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