Generation ROC: Teens tour Amazon prior to selective internship, scholarship initiative

They already have the world's best e-commerce firm with a foot in their door, and so now they get to open the curtain to catch a glimpse of a sneak peek behind the scenes.

Luka Paraskevov and Aidan Benoit both graduate in days. Before that victory lap celebration, they brought the Amazon fulfillment center in Gates to an invite-only internship and scholarship that they received under the Amazon Future Engineers program.

"I have never actually seen people enjoy this sort of in these kinds of situations where there are high-level positions, you know? I'm a little curious about what is going on behind the scenes," Luka tells News 8's Mikhaela Singleton.

News 8 had interviewed the two as part of Generation ROC coverage when their acceptance was first made public. From thousands of state-wide applicants who applied for Amazon Future Engineers, only 400 succeeded and only three from upstate New York.

These two Rochesterians had plenty of questions to ask the local Amazon team and say they were deeply fascinated to see how AI, programming, and design have melded together to create a seamless flow from warehouse to your door.

“It’s not as mechanical as actual engineering, but it’s still very — you’re able to be very creative with it,” Aidan explains when asked about his passion for computer science.

The boys admit that when they reach the stand of the graduation stage, they thank the head start provided on their behalf and are ready to meet the challenge of college with valor.

"I'm really a little afraid, actually. A little anxious, but I think that I'll be okay," Luka reflects on his college experience. "I've made it through the majority of my worst yet, so I guess whatever is next, I can cope."