00 / Our story
Our story.
Rooted in gratitude.
How an idea between two executives became a program that has changed the trajectory of more than 150 Scholars.
How Atlas Scholars began.
Craig Taylor
Co-founder · Founder & CEO, Iapetus Holdings
Tej Singh
Co-founder · Chief Operating Officer, Iapetus Holdings
Atlas Scholars was founded to address two gaps in American public education: the lack of real-world work experience and exposure available to most students, and the stark disparity in experiences between neighborhoods inside the same school districts.
In late 2012, co-founders Craig Taylor and Tejpal Singh created an ambitious program for Houston students: three consecutive summer internships, year-round mentorship from working industry leaders, college preparation, performance-based scholarships, and direct access to executives who could open doors. The first class was accepted in 2013.
More than a decade later, the program continues to evolve, but the essence is unchanged — because it works. Every Atlas Scholar to date has been accepted to college, and every Atlas Scholar has gone on to their career of choice. Many are the first in their families to do so.
Atlas Scholars creates an environment in which motivation, drive, and a desire to invest in yourself — and your teams — determine your success.
01 / From the co-founder
“I come from a humble background — neither of my parents finished university. When I was working on the trading floor and saw programs for the children of traders, I thought it would have been really great if I had had that kind of experience growing up.”
— Craig Taylor · Co-founder
02 / Milestones
The idea
Co-founders Craig Taylor and Tejpal Singh sketch a program to give under-resourced Houston students the exposure, mentorship, and internship experience typically reserved for the children of executives.
First class accepted
Atlas Scholars welcomes its inaugural cohort — roughly ten Houston Scholars paired with industry mentors and placed into their first summer internships.
Third graduating class
The program's third class graduates high school with a 100% college acceptance rate — a benchmark every Atlas Scholars class has hit.
Sunday for Scholars launches
Atlas Scholars hosts its first annual Sunday for Scholars benefit, building a dedicated fundraising engine.
10th class of Scholars chosen
A decade after the founding class, Atlas Scholars welcomes its tenth cohort — a milestone that cements the program as a durable Houston institution.
Cohort size doubles to 24
After a decade of classes of 10–12, Atlas Scholars expands the incoming cohort to 24 Scholars — the largest class in program history.
Over 150 lives impacted. And we're just getting started.
A 100% college acceptance rate and a 100% college graduation rate. Alumni are at Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, Rice, UT Austin, Texas A&M, and employers across the country. And it's just the beginning.
Scholarships awarded
College graduation rate
Scholars
First class