7th Graders Can Now Apply for the Cooke Young Scholars Program

Prestigious national scholarship helps middle school students access academic and enrichment opportunities to prepare for top colleges.

News provided by

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

Jan 14, 2019, 15:05 ET

LANSDOWNE, Va., Jan. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced today that the application period for its 2019 Young Scholars Program has opened. This selective, five-year program provides middle schoolers with comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities.

The Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program, a selective 5-year pre-college scholarship for high-performing middle school students with financial need, is the largest scholarship of its kind in the nation.

"The Foundation understands that a level playing field has to start early for high-achieving students," said Executive Director Seppy Basili. "Through the Cooke Young Scholars Program, we're able to provide financial support, guidance, and a thriving community of peers to help students access the sort of programs and institutions that can help them to develop their academic talents and ultimately accomplish incredible things."

Cooke Young Scholars are curious, passionate, and driven. As members of our scholar community, they develop connections with other motivated peers. Each year at First Summer, a three-week residential experience at the University of Pennsylvania for rising 9^th grade scholars, all Cooke Young Scholars take academic courses and create nonprofit organizations to address critical problems facing their communities. In 10^th and 11^th grade, Cooke Young Scholars participate in community-based academic programs. For example, students have immersed themselves in Greek culture and delved into in-depth research at University of California, Santa Barbara. Scholars going into 12^th grade attend Senior Summit and conduct research alongside renowned faculty and advanced graduate students in fields such as materials science, genomics, human rights, and linguistics.

To be eligible for the Young Scholars Program, an applicant will:

Be entering 8^th grade in the fall of 2019.
Have earned grades of mostly A's since the sixth grade, with no C's or below in core academic subjects (English/language arts, math, science, social studies/history, foreign language).
Share the most recent score report from their state's standardized testing.
Demonstrate unmet financial need. We will consider applicants with family income up to $95,000. Last year's cohort of new Cooke Young Scholars had a median family income of approximately $39,000.
Reside in the United States or a U.S. territory, and plan to attend high school in the United States.

The application deadline is Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET. Learn more about the scholarship program or apply now: www.jkcf.org/ysp.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $190 million in scholarships to nearly 2,500 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $100 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org

Media Contact: Amber Styles
571-799-8063
[email protected]

SOURCE Jack Kent Cooke Foundation