Six scholars from Los Angeles Pierce College have been named semifinalists for the highly selective Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship 2020 by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
Simon Alam, Juan Becerra, Sarkis Chrikjian, Harrison Kotik, Colin Melendez and Fatima Sheyda, all honors students, were selected. Cooke Transfer Scholars are chosen based on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service to others, and leadership.
“You are already successes, and I congratulate you on making it to this point of the process to be named semifinalists,” Pierce College President Alexis S. Montevirgen told the group of students as they met in his office.
President Montevirgen pointed out that it was not easy to achieve what they already had accomplished, and asked them how they planned to contribute to their various fields.
"I've always been passionate about the environment and I firmly believe that engineering is my path to making a difference in the world,” Colin Melendez responded. “I'm excited by the prospect of transferring to an institution where I can collaborate with like-minded people and put my ideas to the test."
These six students join 456 semifinalists chosen from a pool of nearly 1,500 applicants attending 311 community colleges throughout the nation. Through this award, the Foundation supports high-achieving community college students as they transfer to some of the best four-year institutions in the country to complete their bachelor’s degrees.
The semifinalists from Pierce, who are majoring in fields ranging from Engineering to Philosophy, are in the process of applying to transfer to some of the nation’s most highly regarded colleges and universities.
Counselor Shelley Tadaki said, “What sets these students apart is that they don’t see the application process as something that begrudgingly must be done, but they embrace the hard work required as an opportunity to reflect on their academic and personal growth and articulate the future path that they envision for themselves.”
She went on to explain that the Cooke Scholars program encourages institutions to take a closer look at community college transfer students, recognizing how their unique and diverse perspectives enhance the learning environment for all students.
Two of the semifinalists were also selected by the Pierce College Honors Program to present their original research at the University of California, Irvine Community College Honors Research Conference this spring. Juan Becerra will present “How the News Media Frames Victims of Police Shootings,” stemming from research he did this past summer at Northwestern University. Sarkis Chrikjian will present titled, “The Impact of Fatigue Relief Intervention on Pain and Sleep Disturbances in HIV+ Latinx Individuals.”
Pierce College Honors Program Director, Yeprem Davoodian, said “The Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship allows a platform to for students to get involved on campus, to conduct research and present at conferences, highlighting their interests and strengths.”
Semifinalists represent the top third of all applicants, and 61 scholarships were awarded in 2019. The highly competitive national scholarship will provide recipients with up to $40,000 annually for a maximum of three years to complete their bachelor’s degree.
In addition to the monetary award, the new Cooke Transfer Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising from Foundation staff to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for their careers.
President Montevirgen told the scholars, “When you go off and become the successes in each of your chosen fields, I hope you will think of Pierce College and consider coming back and serving as mentors and inspirations to future students.”
For more information on the Pierce College’s honors program, visit Honors Transfer Program.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will additionally provide opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of nearly 2,500 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni. For more information visit JKC Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Finalists will be announced in April.
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