Many high school students dream about the luxury car they’d get when they become a success. But Jason Bernal Azamar looks at things differently.  

“My friends talked about cars, but more than anything, I wanted to design and build my own house. That was my dream,” said the first-generation college student from Salem, Oregon.  

A rewarding internship experience

After studying architectural engineering at Oregon State’s College of Engineering for a couple of years, Azamar changed his concentration to structural engineering. Among his achievements was an internship in the summer of 2024 at Eclipse Engineering, a small company in Missoula, Montana, that designs custom mass timber homes.  

“That was a perfect fit,” Azamar said, “The internship gave me an opportunity to practice exactly what I was passionate about, all in a beautiful setting, and it solidified my decision to pursue engineering.” 

One of the company’s founders, Troy Leistiko, noticed Azamar’s potential and observed that the two shared a commitment to high standards, determination, focus, persistence, and the desire to help others. He encouraged Azamar to apply to Stanford’s graduate engineering school, where Leistiko earned his master’s degree. 

“Despite my hesitation about how selective the program is, Troy assured me that I was ready,” Azamar said.  

Engineering scholarships play a key role in Azamar’s journey

In June, Azamar received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is preparing to start the graduate program in structural engineering at Stanford.  

Azamar also qualified for a scholarship from the Ford Family Foundation, a private, nonprofit charitable organization that supports students from Oregon with financial needs who demonstrate strong character, work ethic, leadership potential, perseverance, and a clear career vision.  

“Without that scholarship, which covered about 90% of my college expenses, I wouldn’t have been able to finish my degree,” he said.  

Azamar also worked as an advisor for the Construction Industry Empowerment Scholarship, where he helped students access financial and academic assistance, internships, and other forms of support.  

“Many people have been there for me along the way, and I wanted to assure others and help them overcome difficult times,” Azamar said.  

Overcoming obstacles as a first-generation engineering student

During his second year in college, Azamar faced a low point when he struggled with some difficult courses. To break the pattern, he and his father visited the family’s hometown, Ojo de Agua, Mexico, where he experienced what his parents had sacrificed to help him succeed.  

“That trip helped me disconnect from the rest of the world and find my motivation again,” he said. “Afterward, I understood why I’m doing what I’m doing today. Realizing what my family went through motivated me to push through my own issues, and because of that trip, I never forgot that the reasons I stayed up late on weekends to study was not just to help myself, but to help my family, too.”