Liza Wilson Durant announced that Mason will be supporting scholarships for Montgomery College students in the new Bachelor of Applied Science pathway in cloud computing. Photo by Pete Vidal.
George Mason University and Montgomery College, in collaboration with AWS Educate, will partner to create a Bachelor of Applied Science pathway in cloud computing. This degree allows students to transfer seamlessly from a two-year associate’s degree to a four-year bachelor’s degree in cloud technology.
At the formal announcement and symbolic MOU signing on Friday, February 28, at the Montgomery College Germantown Campus, Liza Wilson Durant, associate dean for strategic initiatives and community engagement for Mason Engineering, surprised the attendees by announcing the university’s commitment to scholarships for Montgomery College students in the pathway. Students with a 2.85 GPA will be eligible for the $10,000 scholarship while students with a 3.5 or higher will be eligible for the $12,000 scholarship.
“We’ve really invested in the community college system, and we’re really excited to be able to invest in this new partnership with Montgomery College," says Durant.
Montgomery College and Mason faculty worked in unison with AWS Educate curriculum designers to create a path that will help students pursue careers in cloud architecture, cybersecurity, software development, and DevOps, a system of software development and delivery. These degrees will provide a clear path to high-demand careers in cloud computing with Amazon Web Services and other companies alike.
“We are excited about this new partnership and the potential that it presents for expanding opportunities for our students,” says Michelle Marks, vice president for academic innovation and new ventures at Mason. “Mason has a long history of enrolling talented Montgomery College transfer students and the cloud degree pathway is another example of working together to prepare students for an ever-changing workforce.”