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With support from Innovate Alabama, QuantHub is proud to announce the 3rd cohort of Alabama Data Scholars.
Selected from a competitive statewide pool of more than 700 applicants, the 2026 Alabama Data Scholars represent high schools, community colleges, and universities across Alabama. Throughout the summer, Scholars will work alongside 23 employer partners on unique project opportunities spanning artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and data science applications in fields including healthcare, biotechnology, entrepreneurship, economic development, and community impact. From developing secure large language models for legal workflows and applying deep learning to biological image analysis to supporting economic development initiatives and AI-powered solutions for nonprofits and municipalities, these students are helping Alabama employers solve meaningful challenges while building skills for the jobs of tomorrow.
Congratulations to the 2026 Alabama Data Scholars!
Learn more about the program here.
Altec
Dallas Lewis | Hoover, AL
Spain Park High School
City of Birmingham
Kennadi Sullen | Birmingham, AL
Altamont School
Zariyah Chaney | Hoover, AL
Shades Valley High School
City of Newbern
Byron Cook | Newbern, AL
Greensboro High School
Lavali Briggins | Newbern, AL
Hale County High School
City of Pleasant Grove
Jayna Todd | Pleasant Grove, AL
Alabama School of Math and Science
Lamar Blue | Pleasant Grove, AL
Pleasant Grove High School
Crimson Wealth Management
Beau Underwood | Fairhope, AL
Fairhope High School
Wendy Lian | Hoover, AL
Hoover High School
EDPA
Calvin Kim | Northport, AL
University of Texas – Dallas
Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center
Alex Sullen | McCalla, AL
Samford University
Keyonna Martin | Montgomery, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery
Founder’s Playground
Catherine Thuo | Calera, AL
University of North Alabama
Kalia Woods | Huntsville, AL
Grissom High School
Noah Wilson | Harvest, AL
Homeschool
HICA
Jonathan Bolanos-Catete | Oneonta, AL
Oneonta High School
Miyelani Mathebula | Homewood, AL
Homewood High School
Innovation Portal
Amelia Moore | Mobile, AL
Murphy High School
Joey James Law
Brooks Hurt | Florence, AL
Auburn University
Ethan Elliot | Tuscumbia, AL
Colbert Heights High School
Lifted Higher Ministries
Ivy Forester | Dothan, AL
George C. Wallace Community College
Jayden Barnes | Montgomery, AL
Booker T. Washington Magnet High School
LunarLab
Cameron Fleming | Tuscaloosa, AL
Paul W. Bryant High School
Jayla Rollins | Montgomery, AL
Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School
LunarLab
Noah Gardinier | Montgomery, AL
Eastwood Christian School
Motivated Movers
Jai Varikuti | Birmingham, AL
Oak Mountain High School
Sai Vajaha | Hoover, AL
Spain Park High School
QuantHub
Logan Wolverton | Madison, AL
MARS Microschool
Michael Lance | New Market, AL
Hazel Green High School
Samantha Harris | Horton, AL
Douglas High School
William Hessler | Westfield, IN
The University of Alabama
ReRev
Meihua Qu | Rainbow City, AL
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Selma Centre for Commerce
Amaya Murray | Selma, AL
Troy University
Ashlyn Taylor | Prattville, AL
Mississippi State University
Elexis Huggins | Prattville, AL
George Wallace State Community College – Selma
TMB Tax & Financial
Dianna-Grace Nelson | Florala, AL
Troy University
Shayna Haynes | Birmingham, AL
John Carroll Catholic High School
Three Notch Group
Ansley Watson | Smiths Station, AL
Auburn University at Montgomery
Blair Kang | Auburn, AL
Auburn High School
United Way of Madison County
Ellie Chan | Madison, AL
James Clemens High School
Itimu Buchanan | Huntsville, AL
New Century Technology High School
Landon Mulraine | Meridianville, AL
Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering
Patrick Bentley | Harvest, AL
Sparkman High School
Suhas Pasupuleti | Madison, AL
Bob Jones High School
VivoSphere
Aditya Gupta | Tuscaloosa, AL
Northridge High School
Evan Wang | Hoover, AL
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Wiregrass Foundation
Gabriella Jones | Buhl, AL
Shelton State Community College
Rhonoya Anderson | Talladega, AL
Talladega College
Program Overview
The 2026 Alabama Data Scholars cohort represents the next generation of Alabama’s AI and data talent, bringing together outstanding students from across the state to gain hands-on experience through paid internships. Selected from more than 700 applicants, these scholars will work alongside employers to solve real-world challenges while building skills for high-demand careers.
- 50 paid internships
- 23 employer partners
- 700+ student applicants statewide
- 34 high schools represented
- 13 colleges and universities represented
- 54% female and 46% male cohort
Since launching in 2024, Alabama Data Scholars has connected 120+ students with paid, project-based internships across 50+ Alabama employers. The program is powered by QuantHub in partnership with Innovate Alabama and the Birmingham Business Alliance, with 2026 Pathway Sponsors The University of Alabama in Huntsville and RxBenefits.
Meet the 2026 Alabama Data Scholars: 50 Students. 23 Employers. One Mission.
Every summer, something remarkable happens across Alabama. Students from small rural towns and major metro areas alike step into real workplaces, tackle real data problems, and discover that a career in data and AI is not just possible, it is within reach. That is the promise of the Alabama Data Scholars program, and the 2026 cohort is the strongest proof yet that it is being kept.
What Is Alabama Data Scholars?
Alabama Data Scholars (ADS) is a statewide workforce development initiative powered by QuantHub and made possible through Innovate Alabama. The program places high school and undergraduate students in paid, part-time summer internships at employer organizations across Alabama, from startups to rural nonprofits to civil engineering firms in the Wiregrass.
The mission is straightforward: “To engage, inspire, and retain Alabama’s next generation of data and AI-driven innovators.”
Each 8-week session combines hands-on employer projects with structured skill-building through the QuantHub platform, weekly professional development workshops, a Speaker Series, and a culminating Scholar Showcase. Students earn industry-recognized microcredentials alongside real work experience. Employers gain skilled, motivated interns at no barrier to entry, with stipend funding available through program partners.
The 2026 Cohort by the Numbers
This year’s class represents a significant milestone for the program.
- 50 scholars placed across 23 employer organizations
- 47 different schools represented
- 35 high school scholars and 15 undergraduate scholars
- Students hailing from 32 cities spanning the full state of Alabama
The geographic diversity of this cohort is particularly striking. Students are commuting to internships or logging in remotely from places like Newbern, Horton, Florala, and Tuscumbia alongside students from Huntsville, Birmingham, and Montgomery. A full 24% of scholars come from rural communities, reflecting the program’s commitment to expanding opportunity beyond Alabama’s urban corridors.
Where They’re Working
The 2026 employer roster spans a diverse range of industries, reflecting ADS’s core belief that data and AI skills are not niche—they are foundational capabilities for every sector of the modern economy.
This year’s scholars are embedded at organizations including biotech firms, civil engineering companies, legal technology practices, financial services firms, municipal governments, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits serving communities across the state. Employer partners range from nationally recognized companies like Altec to community-rooted organizations like Selma & Dallas County Centre for Commerce.
That breadth is intentional. When a student from a rural high school sees their data skills solving a real problem for a local employer, the idea of building a career in Alabama becomes tangible in a way that no classroom exercise can replicate.
Funded by a Community of Partners
The 2026 cohort is supported through a collaborative funding model that reflects broad institutional investment in Alabama’s talent pipeline. Innovate Alabama funds the largest share of scholar stipends, with additional support from employer sponsors, UAH, and RxBenefits. Several employer organizations are funding intern stipends directly — a sign of growing employer confidence in the program’s value.
What Comes Next
The 2026 session runs through July 31. Over the next several weeks, scholars will continue building skills on the QuantHub platform, participating in the program’s Speaker Series, and completing the projects their employer mentors have designed for them. The summer concludes with a Scholar Showcase where students present their work to employers, program partners, and the broader Alabama community.
If you are an employer, educator, or community partner interested in learning more about how to get involved with Alabama Data Scholars, visit quanthub.com or reach out to the QuantHub team.
Alabama’s next generation of data and AI innovators is already on the job. We could not be more proud of what this cohort represents.