Exceptional High School Seniors Awarded $40,000 College Scholarship

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Announces Recipients of the Nation's Largest College Scholarship

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Apr 03, 2018, 11:35 ET

LANSDOWNE, Va., April 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced the 106 recipients of its College Scholarship Program, who will each receive up to $40,000 annually to complete their bachelor's degree.

Today the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced the 106 recipients of its College Scholarship Program, who will each receive up to $40,000 annually to complete their bachelor’s degree.

In addition to the monetary award, these new Cooke College Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising from foundation staff to guide them through the processes of transitioning to campus and preparing for their careers. The foundation will additionally provide opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of 2,300 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni.

"High-achieving students with financial need are often deterred from applying to elite colleges and universities," said Harold O. Levy, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. "And yet, the research clearly shows that when they are able to enroll in selective institutions, lower-income students are just as likely as their wealthier peers to be academically successful and graduate. We look forward to supporting Cooke College Scholars as they matriculate to universities such as Stanford, Yale, and Harvard."

This year, over 5,000 students applied for the Cooke College Scholarship. Many of these students were identified through a partnership with the College Board, which connects scholarship organizations to students through their participation in the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10. The foundation evaluated each submission based on academic ability, persistence, leadership, and service to others. Engineering, political science and government, biological science, and physics are the most popular fields of study among the cohort.

A full list of the 2018 Cooke College Scholars, including the high schools and states they represent, can be viewed here.

About the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
The Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded $175 million in scholarships to more than 2,300 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services. The foundation has also provided over $97 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org

Media Contact: Amber Styles
703-723-5647, [email protected]

SOURCE Jack Kent Cooke Foundation