YWCC Student Angel Cazares Awarded Prestigious 2024 eBay HSI Battle of the Brains Scholarship

Angel Cazares, an S-STEM scholar and president of the Hispanic and Latin Association of Computing College Students (HACCS) at NJIT, has been awarded the distinguished 2024 eBay HSI Battle of the Brains Scholarship. This recognition celebrates Cazares' academic dedication and leadership in technology and innovation, marking a significant milestone in his journey and reinforcing NJIT’s growing reputation for developing young leaders and problem-solvers.

Cazares recently represented NJIT at the renowned HSI Battle of the Brains competition, a 16-hour event where teams from Hispanic-Serving Institutions were tasked with developing comprehensive business models and website designs based on a specific prompt. HACCS assembled a diverse team to represent NJIT at the competition, with Cazares taking the lead on brand identity, design, and the development of AI-driven features. His leadership and creativity helped the team excel, highlighting their impressive teamwork, innovation and problem-solving abilities. His leadership and contributions were instrumental in NJIT’s impressive debut at the competition, where he was recognized as one of the standout performers.

“My elder sister played a pivotal role in shaping my leadership skills, guiding me with invaluable insights and encouragement," Cazares added.

Reflecting on the experience, Cazares recalled a memorable question from the competition: “I was asked, if I had unlimited resources, what would I do with the money? I said I would focus on De Novo Protein Design, a concept in synthetic biology that leverages protein folding predictions to engineer new proteins with specific, tailored functions.” His passion for bioengineering was inspired during the COVID-19 pandemic when he witnessed his parents’ struggles as essential workers.

“I felt helpless, unable to protect them. Learning how machine learning could integrate with synthetic biology to design proteins against COVID-19 sparked my interest in bioengineering and computer science,” he explained.

The scholarship from eBay provides financial support and mentorship, which will aid Cazares as he pursues research at the intersection of bioengineering and technology.

“This scholarship will allow me to push my limits and continue research that combines my interests in synthetic energy and biological solutions,” said Cazares. Additionally, as part of the eBay scholarship program, he will connect with eBay’s network of industry professionals and leaders.

In addition to furthering his education, Cazares plans to use part of his scholarship to purchase a car, which will be his family’s first.

“This car will make commuting to school for class and projects much easier and allow me to support my family as well,” Cazares shared.

NJIT’s first semester as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) holds special significance for HACCS, which received mentorship from the Hispanic and Latin Leadership Council (HLLC). Special recognition goes to Nick Fuentes-Zuluaga of HLLC, who brought this opportunity to HACCS, and Tammy Pelaez, EVP of HACCS, who led the fundraising efforts for the flights. Internal sponsors for flights included The Office of Inclusive Excellence, MTSM, YWCC, Career Development Services, EOP, the Dean of Students, HLLC and Resident Life.

The journey from a young high school student with a deep curiosity to an NJIT scholar and award-winning competitor in technology has been inspiring for his peers and mentors alike. Dr. James Geller, Cazares' professor, noted, “Angel embodies the spirit of NJIT, merging passion with purpose. His work at the HSI Battle of the Brains exemplifies how our students use their skills to tackle big challenges.”

This honor represents not only Cazares’ dedication and drive but also NJIT's commitment to empowering students with a hands-on learning environment. As Cazares prepares to take on his next academic challenges, his success underscores NJIT’s role in fostering future leaders who will shape the fields of bioengineering, computer science and beyond.