Four Queens college students have been awarded $20,000 scholarships by Charter Communications, Inc., which operates the Spectrum brand of entertainment and connectivity services.
The company announced on Monday, July 29, that it had awarded scholarships to four Queens residents via the Spectrum Scholars initiative. The scholarship program was available to college students in need from across the country, with 15 students from eight states chosen.
From Queens, rising juniors Jimmy Chen and Zhenbin Lin of Flushing, Brian Lin of East Elmhurst, and Chidera Okonkwo of Cambria Heights each received $20,000 in scholarships and the opportunity to participate in a two-year educational and professional development program.
The scholarships will be applied toward their junior and senior years in college. All scholarship recipients will also be paired with a mentor from Spectrum, where they will receive access to networking events, career readiness education, and the opportunity for a paid Spectrum internship.
The scholarship program is tailored toward the development needs of young professionals. It aims to help them expand their skill sets, explore new career paths and grow their networks. This program is for eligible rising juniors in financial need.
The 15 winners were selected from 930 applicants for the 2024-2025 Spectrum Scholars program.
“Spectrum Scholars creates a supportive and educational environment that arms students with the experiences and skills to prepare them for the corporate world while actively guiding them towards their desired career goals,” Charter Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Paul Marchand said. “Now in its fourth year, the program builds a better talent pipeline and nurtures next generation leaders through meaningful financial support, mentorship and career development.”
Jimmy Chen is currently a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he majors in computer science. With Spectrum having expertise in this field, he expressed excitement at the opportunity to learn more about the adaptation of artificial intelligence, with a long-term goal of contributing to this in the future. He aspires to work full-time in a software or AI engineering position, where he wants to make an impact by working on projects that contribute to the world and make people’s lives easier.
In regards to the mentorship aspect of the program, Chen said he is grateful to have someone to go to for career advice and to discuss the latest trends in the professional world.
“[Being a Spectrum Scholar] means having the chance to be a part of a community of driven and talented individuals who are passionate about technology and innovation,” Chen said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to grow, learn and make meaningful impacts at Spectrum and ultimately, towards the world. I believe that Spectrum Scholars will strengthen my ability to network with people and learn how to collaborate in cross-functional teams.”
Zhenbin Lin is attending Stony Brook University and majoring in computer science. He said the scholarship will help him alleviate the financial burden of finishing his undergraduate studies while inspiring him to strive for more in the field. Lin said he hopes to be working full-time as a software engineer shortly after he graduates.
Lin also emphasized the importance of having a Spectrum mentor. He noted that the mentor could help on both a personal and professional level. In addition to getting career advice, Lin said the mentor could also help him transition from college to the workforce.
“Being a Spectrum Scholar means the recognition and validation of my hard work and potential, and the fact that someone is willing to take a chance on me,” Lin said. “I’m excited to build connections with fellow scholars and industry professionals and gain insights into the media and technology sector. The Spectrum Scholars program inspires me to contribute to creating a more equitable and innovative future. The mentorship, networking and professional development opportunities will allow me to build a network of ambitious and like-minded individuals, opening the door to invaluable career advancement opportunities.”
Brian Lin is a business administration major at Cornell University. He said the professional development training that comes with the scholarship will help him break into the corporate world. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of the support system provided through the mentorship program. According to Lin, the advice the mentor can provide will help him go a long way in his professional life.
“Being a Spectrum Scholar means being part of a network of like-minded students that can help one another out throughout college and for the rest of our lives, and receive mentorship now so that I can pay it forward at a larger scale in the future,” Lin said. “It will also help me decide the career path that I am interested in pursuing, from financial services to technology or entrepreneurship.”
He hopes to eventually start his own business venture in tech, real estate or finance. In addition to aspiring for economic wealth, Lin hopes to be able to give back by helping those who came from humble beginnings, like himself.
Okonkwo is majoring in finance at the University of California, Los Angeles. He emphasized the importance of having access to much-needed support and resources, thanks to the Spectrum Scholarship. The scholarship will help him overcome financial barriers and, as a result, enable him to focus more on innovative research and development.
“The Spectrum Scholars program provides crucial financial aid, professional mentorship and hands-on experience, all of which are essential for achieving my goal of leading technology initiatives in the telecommunications sector,” Okonkwo said.
In the near future, Okonkwo hopes to be leading projects that focus on developing energy-efficient technologies in the telecommunications industry. These projects would contribute to sustainable and equitable growth on a global level.
Spectrum Scholars may also find a career opportunity with Spectrum after they graduate. Spectrum Scholars alumni Byron Coulter started a position with Spectrum as an associate development operations engineer in May, right after graduating from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a degree in computer information systems.
“Spectrum Scholars was instrumental in helping to shape my career path, providing not just financial aid, but exposure to new career opportunities,” Coulter said. “Initially, I was interested in cybersecurity, but the broad experiences offered by the program redirected me towards data center infrastructure and, ultimately, a full-time job offer with the company before I had graduated.”
