LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., 15 August 2025 – The IEEE Computer Society (CS) is pleased to announce the first recipients of its inaugural Career Catalyst Scholarships. Evaluated by a set of criteria that includes academic performance; technical skills and experience; leadership and extracurriculars; statement of purpose; industry readiness and professionalism; and letters of recommendation, each candidate underwent a rigorous review by a panel of industry judges. Selected from a pool of over 105 applicants, the following 10 individuals are this year’s 2025 Career Catalyst Scholarship recipients:
Christ-Sonley Charles, University of Delaware (LinkedIn)
Vibhuti Dahiya, Georgia Institute of Technology (LinkedIn)
Arvin Hamrah, George Washington University (LinkedIn)
Lavneet Hora, Texas Tech University (LinkedIn)
Akshitha Kartigueyan, Purdue University (LinkedIn)
Shreya Katam, The University of Texas at Austin (LinkedIn)
Hyunjung Kim, American University (LinkedIn)
Jakob Skipper, Jacksonville State University (LinkedIn)
Sebastian Thomas, Northeastern University (LinkedIn)
Isabella Zardo, California State University, Stanislaus (LinkedIn)
Newly launched in 2025, the IEEE CS Career Catalyst Scholarship Program helps bridge the gap between academic learning and industry employability. This program provides students with the real-world skills and professional networks needed to transition successfully into corporate careers in computing and technology. The program runs from June through December and offers participants up to US$6,000 in qualified tuition and related expenses.
“Students are the future of computing and often are seeking the community’s support in evaluating potential avenues for their careers,” said Hironori Washizaki, IEEE CS 2025 President. “The Career Catalyst Scholarship Program is designed to address that need by offering opportunities for early-stage computing students to engage with industry leaders and identify potential career paths that align with their interests. The program also helps form their network, allowing them to identify people who can become mentors and advisors as they grow in their careers.”
The Career Catalyst Scholarship Program offers recipients numerous ways to engage with industry experts, including office tours and facility walk-throughs; fireside chat sessions with executives and technical leaders; discussions on corporate operations, innovation strategies, career opportunities, and qualities hiring managers seek; problem-solving challenges; and team collaborations to develop innovative solutions.
As this year’s primary industry partner, Qualcomm has facilitated several activities in support of the scholarship. For instance, scholarship recipients have already engaged with a virtual panel of Qualcomm professionals, with titles ranging from engineer to vice president, to hear real-world experiences of what it’s like to work in industry and ask specific questions of panelists. This year’s awardees also have received Qualcomm’s development kit and robot as part of their welcome kit, and the company plans to host a workshop to help them familiarize themselves with the details of the kit’s hands-on activities. In a culminating event closer to the end of the year, scholarship awardees will travel to Qualcomm headquarters in San Diego, where they will tour the facility and museum and work on a challenge statement as part of a Think Tank experience.
“Industry partners like Qualcomm make it possible to help students recognize the opportunities in computing, and we thank them for their support,” said Washizaki. “In addition, we’d like to recognize the work of this year’s judges. We are very appreciative of the time they took to empower the next generation of industry leaders.”
The 2025 IEEE CS Career Catalyst Scholarship judges included: Ikram Ahmed, Pranav Bhasker, Pranav kumar Chaudhary, Sowmya Chintakindi, Karthi Gopalaswamy, Rajesh Gundeti, Harisankar Kapilavai, Harshit Kohli, Chaitantya Krishnama, Mahendrian Krishnan, Abhay Paroha, Nidhin Ponnon, Naga Srinivasa Rao, Harini Shankar, Karanbir Singh, and Sanju Venugopal.
For more information on the Career Catalyst Scholarship or to join the IEEE CS Career Catalyst Scholarship Planning Committee or become an industry partner, visit the scholarship page.
About IEEE Computer Society
Engaging computer engineers, scientists, academia, and industry professionals from all areas and levels of computing, the IEEE Computer Society (CS) serves as the world’s largest and most established professional organization of its type. IEEE CS sets the standard for the education and engagement that fuels continued global technological advancement. Through conferences, publications, and programs that inspire dialogue, debate, and collaboration, IEEE CS empowers, shapes, and guides the future of not only its 375,000+ community members, but the greater industry, enabling new opportunities to better serve our world. Visit computer.org for more information.