Announcing Austin Jamias as the Winner of the Inaugural Paul Cormier Red Hat Open Source Scholarship

We are thrilled to announce that Austin Jamias, a Computer Engineering major from Boston University’s College of Engineering, Class of 2025, has been awarded the prestigious Paul Cormier Red Hat Open Source Scholarship. This scholarship, established by Red Hat, honors the legacy of Paul Cormier—former chairman of Red Hat Research—for his many years of service and significant contributions to the field of open-source technology.

Launched this year, the Paul Cormier Red Hat Open Source Scholarship is a $25,000 annual award presented to one student each year for the next four years. The scholarship is awarded to rising seniors engaged in the study of open-source technology or closely related fields. Recipients must exhibit the values of courage, fearlessness, and unwavering passion for open-source technology, alongside active involvement in promoting its use and adoption.

Austin’s academic endeavors epitomize the values and mission of the Scholarship. His introduction to Red Hat began in the classroom through Boston University’s Introduction to Operating Systems course. Guided by faculty mentor and current head of Red Hat Research, Boston University Professor Orran Krieger, and Red Hat Senior Distinguished Engineer Larry Woodman, Austin quickly became an integral part of the Red Hat Collaboratory, working on innovative projects such as improving open-source textbooks for future students through his student research project “EC440 Operating System Fundamentals Online Textbook” and exploring Kubernetes integration to optimize data retrieval in cloud computing environments in his project “Integrating D4N with K8s”.

Through these experiences, Austin developed a passion for open-source technology and its potential to create collaborative, impactful solutions. He describes how working with Red Hat gave him a deeper understanding of how industry and research intersect. “It’s not just about implementing solutions but about learning to communicate ideas effectively and work with others to solve complex problems,” he reflects.

Austin’s contributions extend beyond research. As a teaching assistant for the Introduction to Operating Systems course, he inspires younger students by fostering collaboration and sharing his industry insights. Austin emphasizes that the most valuable insight he has gained is that “success isn’t defined by how smart you are, but by your ability to connect people and resources.”

Austin’s passion for open-source technology was further cemented during his summer internship at Red Hat. From technical challenges to mentorship sessions with Red Hat engineers, the internship provided invaluable insights into how open-source principles shape industry practices. “It felt like a summer camp designed just for us interns,” Austin shares.

Austin’s commitment to promoting open-source technology goes beyond his research. He actively engages with his peers, encouraging them to explore and embrace the open-source ethos. His involvement exemplifies the scholarship’s mission to recognize students who advance open-source technology in their communities while demonstrating fearless passion and leadership.

As the inaugural recipient of the Paul Cormier Red Hat Open Source Scholarship, Austin sets a high standard for future honorees. His achievements and dedication to open-source technology reflect the values Paul Cormier championed throughout his career. This recognition highlights Austin’s exceptional talent and potential while affirming the impact of fostering collaboration and innovation through open-source principles.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Austin Jamias on this well-deserved honor and look forward to his continued contributions to the field of open-source technology and beyond.