State and local leaders honored a 22-year-old tech entrepreneur for helping young people become software engineers.

Nate Pitruzello was honored at Westport Town Hall for donating $10,000 in Bitcoin for scholarships to the non-profit Holberton School in New Haven.

Pitruzello founded the data security firm ‘Scroll’ while going to college two years ago. His company now employs 22 people.

The Holberton School, which is free until students get a job, is an alternative to college that was started to train software engineers.

They say they hope to recruit students from Stamford, Bridgeport and Norwalk.

David Salinas who brought the Holberton School to Connecticut was also honored at the event.