Congratulations to the recipients of the Fall 2025 Synchrony Tech Scholarship—Micah Nelson, Joshua Krzemien, Gerard Salazar, and Maximilian Marzec! This scholarship supports autistic adults pursuing technology-related courses or training to advance their careers.
Scholarship award amounts depend on the technology-related course or program, ranging from $500 to $5,000. In 2025, more than $30,000 was awarded to help cover qualifying courses in the recipients’ chosen programs.
In addition to receiving scholarship funds, the recipients have the opportunity to work with a mentor from Synchrony. This mentorship provides professional guidance and encouragement throughout the mentee’s certification program from someone with practical experience in a tech career.
Kristen Essex, OAR’s executive director, offered her congratulations to the recipients, “On behalf of OAR and Synchrony, I am excited to have Micah, Joshua, Gerard, and Maximilian as the most recent recipients of the Synchrony Tech Scholarship. They have chosen phenomenal programs to help make them more competitive in the job market. I look forward to seeing how well they do and what they achieve in the future.”
Micah Nelson
Security+ Certification
CompTIA
“Receiving this scholarship is a meaningful stepping stone in my path toward a cybersecurity career. It represents a moment where my hard work and dedication are recognized, and it gives me the support I need to keep moving forward with confidence. This opportunity helps me continue building the skills and momentum that will shape the next stage of my journey.
“The Synchrony Tech Scholarship will directly accelerate my cybersecurity career by giving me the resources to earn my Security+ certification. This credential will strengthen my technical foundation, validate my skills to employers, and significantly improve my chances of securing an internship or early.”
Joshua Krzemien
Information Systems Technology, AAS
Brightpoint Community College
“Receiving the Synchrony Tech Scholarship has meant more to my family and me than words can fully express. What began with fixing my middle school teacher’s computer has grown into a passion that led me to become CCNA-certified, enroll in college, and pursue a career as an information systems security officer. This scholarship is not just financial relief; it is a vote of confidence in who I am, and I intend to honor it by dedicating myself fully to my education and the certifications required for my future. It has greatly improved my confidence and determination, reinforcing that the path I chose in IT/Cybersecurity is not only achievable but within reach, and for that, I am deeply grateful.
“This scholarship will directly benefit my career by covering the costs of earning my information systems technology associate’s degree, removing the financial barriers that would otherwise slow my progress. Furthermore, it provides me the opportunity to sharpen my technical and critical thinking skills, while deepening my knowledge of cybersecurity and the protection of the systems and networks that organizations depend on every day. Finally, this scholarship has reinforced my commitment to excellence, equipping me with the credentials and work ethic that will set me apart as a future information systems security officer.”
Gerard Salazar
Professional Certificate in Applied Artificial Intelligence
University of California (UC) Riverside
“After receiving a later-in-life autism level 1 diagnosis in my late 30s, it caused me to begin to wonder whether I should be continuing the exact same work with a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization after 10+ years of experience. Since the diagnosis, I struggled with feeling stuck in my career (Am I stuck working the exact same job indefinitely?) and feeling helpless in life (Where can I even begin to find the funds to attempt a career pivot with my wife and my kids depending on me as their primary financial provider?). Being selected as a Synchrony Tech scholar gives me tangible hope as an autistic adult in finding training that best fits my autistic strengths (such as dedication to special interests or the ability to hyper-focus) by pursuing a technology-related course/program that I otherwise would not have been able to afford if not for the immense generosity of the OAR scholarship committee!
“With the aid of this scholarship, I have a realistic chance to acquire knowledge and skills to earn a professional certificate in applied artificial intelligence that I simply cannot afford on my own. Upon completion of the program, I would be in a better place to make a career pivot and find suitable employment arrangements that best suit my autistic strengths!”
Maximilian Marzec
Master of Science, Computer Science
Clemson University
Are you interested in advancing your career in the tech field? The Synchrony Tech Scholarship is now accepting applications through April 30, 2026.
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