Publish Date: May 23, 2016
SALINAS, Calif. – Hartnell Community College District proudly announces that honors student Alejandro Gomez has been awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship worth up to $40,000 a year for three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university
Gomez is an Engineering Major graduating with a 4.0 G.P.A. this Friday. He is a natural born leader and enjoys helping others. He is President of the Engineering Club on campus and uses this platform to do community outreach as a way to help Salinas’ youth. He is also a Supplemental Instruction Leader and enjoys tutoring others. He is eager to start the fall semester 2016 at UC Berkeley.
He is one of 75 community college students from a competitive nationwide pool this year to receive this honor. All of the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars have financial need and strong records of academic achievement as shown by grades, leadership skills, awards, extraordinary service to others and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The recipient was asked to the Board of Trustees Development meeting last week under the impression the he along with other students would be recognized for their academic achievements. He was surprised and happy when Superintendent/President, Dr. Willard Lewallen told him the news in front of the Board, management, staff, and guests.
“We are so proud to announce that this is the second Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship given to one of our students in the last four years,” shared Dr. Lewallen. “Last year it was given to Oscar Martinez, currently a junior at UCLA majoring in Math.”
The Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is the largest private scholarship in the nation for students transferring from two-year community colleges to four-year institutions that award bachelor’s degrees.
Cooke Scholarships fund the costs of attending college not covered by other financial aid, plus academic advising, stipends for internships, study abroad, and opportunities to network with other Cooke Scholars and alumni. In addition, after earning a bachelor’s degree, each Cooke Scholar will be eligible for a scholarship for graduate school worth up to $50,000 a year for up to four years.
“This is proof that when you work hard and are dedicated, you will be rewarded,” said Gomez.
About the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. It offers the largest scholarships in the U.S., comprehensive counseling and other support services to students from 8th grade to graduate school. Since 2000 it has awarded about $147 million in scholarships to more than 2,000 students and $90 million in grants to organizations that serve outstanding low-income students. www.jkcf.org
Hartnell Community College District – established in 1920
The Hartnell CCD serves over 16,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are proud to be the winners of the Innovation Award for CSin3 – a Computer Science degree in three years. We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu.
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