Hawaiian Airlines is encouraging Hawai‘i students to pursue careers in information technology with the establishment of a $100,000 scholarship fund in partnership with Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. The Hawaiian Airlines New Horizons Scholarship will provide $10,000 awards each year for up to two undergraduate students enrolling in the school’s Information Systems program, starting in the fall 2023 semester.
“Information technology touches every aspect of Hawaiian Airlines. We will continue to grow our technology team with a focus on improving our operations and the guest experience,” said John Jacobi, senior vice president and chief information officer at Hawaiian Airlines. “We are delighted to partner with Arizona State’s exceptional IT program and offer Hawai‘i students a unique opportunity to succeed in this exciting field. Of course, we also hope graduates will consider building a career right here at home with our airline.”
Hawaiian – which has provided nonstop flights between Phoenix and Honolulu for two decades and, in 2020, opened a Technology Center in Tempe – has developed a strong relationship with Arizona State University and area colleges to support the school-to-career pipeline, including via a summer internship program.
“We are incredibly grateful for this new scholarship to support our students from Hawai’i in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines,” said Ohad Kadan, dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business. “This partnership aligns well with our vision of providing access to excellent and innovative business education.”
The one-year scholarship is open to juniors and seniors carrying a 3.0 GPA or higher and whose primary residence is in Hawai‘i. Applications must be submitted to Arizona State University on or before Feb. 1, 2023. More information is available here.
Hawaiian’s IT team of nearly 300 employees – out of a 7,000-plus workforce – includes software engineers, architects, database managers, business analysts, and many other positions.
Hawaiian’s scholarship at Arizona State University adds to the carrier’s portfolio of workforce development initiatives. Last summer, Hawai‘i’s hometown carrier announced an innovative program with Honolulu Community College in which airline mechanics teach classes for the school’s Aeronautics Maintenance Program. In September, Hawaiian joined the University of Hawai‘i’s IT/Cyber Leap-Start Experience Excelerator Program to welcome students into its operations and provide valuable on-the-job training.