The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) awarded Alexis Lopez, a Lone Star College-Tomball student, the prestigious Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The national scholarship will cover a significant share of a student’s educational expenses to complete their bachelor’s degree.
“Receiving a Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship can be transformative,” said Mario K. Castillo, J.D., LSC chancellor. “This opportunity will open the door to a whole new world of possibilities. My congratulations to Alexis and to all the Lone Star College Jack Kent Cooke semifinalists for what they have accomplished.”
In addition to receiving the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, Lopez is an Honors College Chancellor’s Fellow, Barry Goldwater Award recipient and LSC Work Study student. Lopez will receive up to $55,000 per year for up to three years to cover a substantial share of educational expenses including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees.
“We are so proud of Alexis for this amazing accomplishment,” said Katharine Caruso, Ph.D., LSC associate vice chancellor, Honors and International Education. “Alexis is enrolled in the Lone Star Honors College which meets the needs of high-achieving students who are looking to improve their college transcripts and transferability with challenging coursework.”
Lopez will receive all-inclusive educational advising from JKCF staff to guide her through the process of transitioning to a four-year school. To date, 32 LSC students have been awarded the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship since 2012.
“Community college students remain far too underrepresented at our nation’s top institutions, despite clear research demonstrating their success once they arrive,” said Seppy Basili, Cooke Foundation executive director. “Our scholarship is one way we aim to ensure that high-achieving students have the opportunity to complete their degree where they want, regardless of their financial background.”
LSC had 18 semifinalists named this year, the most of any college in Texas. Only 60 Transfer Scholars were selected from the nearly 1,700 applicants from across the nation. Applicants were evaluated on their academic prowess, financial need, persistence, community service and leadership qualities.
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 almost $282 million in scholarships to more than 3,300 students from eighth grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $133 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org.
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2023 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.