Thomas J. Watson College Scholars Program Welcomes New Cohort for 2026-27
The Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science proudly announces its sixth cohort for the Watson College Scholars Program for the academic year 2026-27. Launched in 2021, this program provides support and financial assistance to undergraduates aspiring to study engineering or computer science at the graduate level.
Notable Sponsors
The program receives funding from generous donors and industry sponsors, including:
- James Bankoski ’91 and Heather Bankoski
- Bloomberg LP
- Toyota Material Handling North America
- Avangrid Foundation
- Subhachandra Chandra, MS ’95, and Nandita Dukkipati
Meet This Year’s Scholars
Alexander ‘Sasha’ Asinovsky
- Hometown: Owego, New York
- Major: Electrical Engineering
- Highlights: Excited about new classes and diverse perspectives.
Igor Zon DeSouza
- Hometown: Mineola, New York
- Major: Computer Science
- Highlights: Looking forward to forming relationships and discovering new opportunities.
Amir Elhadraoui
- Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
- Projected Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Highlights: Focused on mentorship and personal growth.
Edgar Galeana Garcia
- Hometown: The Bronx, New York
- Projected Major: Computer Science
- Highlights: Eager to seize internship opportunities.
Sharon Gao
- Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
- Projected Major: Undecided
- Highlights: Looking forward to expanding her creativity in a collaborative environment.
Rohan Gupta
- Hometown: Ithaca, New York
- Major: Computer Science
- Highlights: Grateful for mentorship and community support.
Anh ‘Jessica’ Ha
- Hometown: New York City
- Major: Computer Science
- Highlights: Excited to contribute to the aerospace industry through AI.
Hailey Harvey
- Hometown: Hempstead, New York
- Major: Computer Engineering
- Highlights: Looking forward to networking and exploring technology interests.
Justin Liang
- Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
- Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Highlights: Eager to connect with faculty and peers.
Julio Cedric Tapia Espinoza
- Hometown: Salinas, Ecuador
- Projected Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Highlights: Excited for hands-on projects and international internships.
Yosmely ‘Mely’ Vasquez
- Hometown: The Bronx, New York
- Major: Computer Science
- Highlights: Looking forward to connecting with campus communities.
Andy Wong
- Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
- Projected Major: Computer Science
- Highlights: Motivated to engage in research and community contribution.
The Watson Scholars Program continues to be a beacon of opportunity for outstanding students in engineering and computer science, fostering their academic and professional journeys.
