University of Minnesota Student Achieves Prestigious AWS Cloud Captain Title
Minneapolis, MN – Deanna Liapis, a senior at the University of Minnesota’s College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS), is among the elite 13% of global applicants to earn the coveted title of AWS Cloud Captain. Supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS), these student leaders manage campus "cloud clubs," fostering a community around cloud computing.
Liapis’s journey began with a shift from product design to Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI) after discovering her strength as a creative problem solver. Initially untrained in computing, she embraced the challenge of a Java programming course and succeeded, marking the turning point in her academic career.
Determined to further her passions, Liapis connected with AWS employee Norman Owens to establish the university’s cloud computing club. Despite her initial lack of technical experience, she took the challenge head-on and has since grown the club to over 40 members. Under her leadership, the club hosts monthly events, including resume reviews and panels featuring AWS professionals, aiming to bridge the gap between students and the cloud computing industry.
In addition to her role as a Cloud Captain, Liapis has been actively involved in various organizations, including serving as a corporate outreach officer for the Association for Computing Machinery for Women and acting as a teaching assistant for an introductory Java course. Her enthusiasm inspired at least one student to pursue the ITI major themselves.
With plans to graduate in fall 2025, Liapis aspires to build a career in cybersecurity and technology strategy, with a dream of focusing on space technology—an ambition stemming from her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut.
Liapis encourages students to embrace change, stating, “Say yes to everything. It’s okay to change paths. Listen to yourself and what you want.”
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