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Giving
Craig Newmark Scholars Excel in Tech
It all started with a few students who wanted to change the culture of tech. What began as a student organization, founded to create a more inclusive space for collaboration and support in a male-dominated field, has grown into a powerful accelerator for launching tech careers.
With the support of philanthropist Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, and a growing network of donors, more than 130 USF students have received undergraduate or graduate Newmark Scholarships over the past five years — helping them launch careers and excel in the tech industry.
For Kesha Shah MS ’23, receiving the Newmark Graduate Scholarship was a turning point for her academic journey.
“It not only eased the financial burden, but empowered me to pursue ambitious goals in tech with confidence,” said Shah. “The support I received helped me build a strong foundation that led to my current role as a machine learning infrastructure engineer at Cruise, where I lead high-impact initiatives that power large-scale search and data mining systems for autonomous vehicles.”
The scholarship offers more than just financial assistance — it provides opportunities to attend academic conferences, networking field trips, research and teaching assistantships, and coding camps.
Marisa Tania MS ’22, now a software engineer at PayPal, credits the Newmark scholarship with helping her make a major career transition.
“It was through USF’s Master’s in Science Computer Science Bridge program that I was able to transition from a non-computer science background in fashion journalism to computer science in less than three years. The supportive faculty and diverse community helped me develop the ability to learn and adapt in this ever-evolving industry — a skill that ultimately helped me break into tech.”
For those who accept the Newmark Scholarship, the impact goes beyond technical education — it fosters personal growth, builds confidence, and secures a strong sense of belonging.
For Kevin Beltran ’19, a military veteran, his time at USF was where he was able to turn his curiosity and passion for virtual reality and gameplay into a career.
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“The opportunity to work in virtual reality research was the foundational real-world experience that I needed to transform my aspirations to contribute in my field into something solid,” said Beltran. “The Newmark Scholarship made it possible for me to focus more of myself into that goal.
Joleena Marshall MS ’22, now a senior data analyst at Sephora, said that receiving the scholarship was a key moment of validation.
“It reminded me that I belonged in this field and that my goals were within reach,” she said. “That encouragement helped shape the path to where I am today. It led to opportunities like being a panelist at the 2024 Silicon Valley Women in Engineering Conference."
USF and Craig Newmark continue to support students in tech in a crucial effort to address the difficulties of entering tech. Through the initiative, recipients graduate from USF with a foundation of professional resources and a community of peers and mentors who support their journey.
Help USF close the opportunity gap — give to USF Scholarships.
