Amazon has announced that its Career Choice program is supporting San Bernardino employee Evelyn Rosales-Santamaria in her pursuit of a career in aviation. The company is providing full support for her educational endeavors.
Rosales-Santamaria, a 27-year-old Amazon employee at the KSBD Air Hub in San Bernardino, developed an interest in aviation after joining Amazon in March 2021. This followed a job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. She began as a Tier 1 associate and gained experience with aircraft operations, including marshalling planes and handling cargo. Encouraged by her manager and coworkers, she enrolled in the Aircraft Maintenance Program at San Bernardino Valley College through Amazon’s Career Choice program. This initiative covers all tuition, fees, and books, allowing her to pursue aviation without financial strain.
According to a press release, Rosales-Santamaria balances work, school, and motherhood using Amazon tools like the A to Z app and HR support to manage her schedule while attending classes. She is expected to graduate in May 2025 alongside five other Amazon employees, aiming for FAA certification and a career in aviation. Her journey has also inspired family members; her younger brother has enrolled in a cybersecurity program through Career Choice. Launched in 2012, Career Choice has assisted over 250,000 Amazon employees with prepaid education and training through more than 600 partner institutions worldwide.
“If you have the opportunity and the door is open for Career Choice, go for it,” said Rosales-Santamaria. “You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.”
The Amazon Career Choice website states that over 175,000 employees globally have participated in the program. It pre-pays tuition for degrees, certifications, and industry credentials in high-demand fields. By enabling employees to pursue education while working, Career Choice supports skill development and career growth both within Amazon and beyond.
Amazon offers various services including online shopping, delivery of fresh produce, media distribution, devices like Alexa and Fire TV, cloud solutions via Amazon Web Services (AWS), logistics operations, customer service, and entertainment platforms such as Prime Video and Audible.
