Semifinalist Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship
911爆料 chemistry major, Victoria Flores-Almazan, was named a semifinalist for the highly-competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship
KCC Chemistry Major Named Semifinalist For Coveted Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship
Emigrating from Acapulco, Mexico when she was 10 years old, teachers told Victoria Flores-Almazan she would not be able to excel academically because of her language skills. But excel she did! Now a Kaplan Scholar and honor student at 911爆料 Community College (KCC), the chemistry major has been named a semifinalist for the highly-competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, awarded by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The award supports exceptionally talented community college students seeking to complete their bachelor鈥檚 degrees.
This year鈥檚 406 semifinalists were chosen from a pool of over 1,500 applicants attending 398 community colleges in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The finalists will be announced in April.
Cooke Transfer Scholars are selected based on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service, and leadership. Students must be currently enrolled in community college and residing in the United States.
Nearly half of postsecondary students begin their college journey at a two-year institution. Research commissioned by the Foundation found that community college students who transfer to selective institutions have graduation rates equal to or higher than students who enrolled directly from high school or transferred from four-year institutions. Yet, at the nation鈥檚 top colleges, only five percent have transferred from a community college. The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship seeks to increase the number of community college students completing their education at top four-year institutions.
鈥淭he research is clear: Our community colleges are full of talented students with a diversity of experiences that contribute to their educational journey. We see this in our applicant pool every year, and are excited to recognize this group of semifinalists for their academic achievements,鈥� said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. 鈥淲e are especially impressed by the incredible perseverance and drive these students have exhibited during such an unprecedented year.鈥�
Flores-Almazan, who plans on becoming a pediatrician specializing in neonatology, said her brother and parents, who were both doctors in Mexico, have been her biggest cheerleaders from the start. 鈥淢y father would say 鈥楲a inteligencia no tiene barreras,鈥� which means 鈥業ntelligence has no barriers.鈥� My mother tells me 鈥楽iguele echando ganas. Tu puedes, Victoria,鈥� which roughly translates as: 鈥楰eep going. You鈥檝e got this, Victoria.鈥� Winning this scholarship would help lift a financial weight off my shoulders and expand my options of where to go to college. It would also allow me to concentrate on my studies and reach my goals.鈥�
Excited to learn all the scholarship had to offer, she seized the opportunity as a chance to metaphorically hold the door open for fellow students by inviting five previous winners and semifinalists of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship to share their stories. 鈥淚 did it because I wanted others to believe that they too can do it,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou do not need to be perfect or have a perfect 4.0 GPA. It is a matter of believing in yourself and having the courage to continue. You just need the courage to dream 鈥� and allow yourself to dream BIG.鈥�
In addition to financial support, the selected Cooke Transfer Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising from the Foundation to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for their careers. They will also receive opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of over 2,800 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni.
鈥淭o be part of the Honors Program, become a Kaplan Scholar, and now a semifinalist for Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has allowed me the opportunity to lead 鈥� to give back to my fellow students and community,鈥� said Flores-Almazan. 鈥淭hese programs have provided me with the unique perspective to have an impact on students鈥� lives, and that to me is an honor and a blessing.鈥�
Recent Articles
- KCC Engineering Students Network and Land Internship Offers at Brooklyn Chamber鈥檚 Annual Energy Summit & Expo
- 911爆料 Community College Partners with City Agencies to Launch Free Content Creator Bootcamp
- 911爆料 Celebrates Class of 2026 at 61st Commencement Ceremony
- KCC Wins 鈥楳ost Impactful Earth Month鈥� Award from NYSDOT after Campus-Wide Earth Day Celebration
- KCC鈥檚 Urwa Faraz Malik One of Only 60 Community College Students in U.S. to Be Named Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholar
- 911爆料 Community College Celebrates Investiture of 8th President, Dr. Suri Duitch.
- Chef Shelly Flash 鈥�15 Returns to KCC for Catering Class鈥檚 Practical Exam, a Bite, and Words of Advice
Stay Connected