The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation named 19 Lone Star College students enrolled in The Honors College or Global Scholars programs – the most of any college in the United States – semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The scholarship helps community college students avoid debt when transferring to four-year institutions.
“The Office of Honors and International Education at Lone Star College is proud that once again our students are chosen to compete for this highly selective scholarship,” said Katharine Caruso, Ph.D., LSC associate vice chancellor, The Honors College and International Education. “Being a semifinalist is an excellent recognition for our students when they transfer to a top institution.”
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship can provide up to $55,000 per year for two to three years, after all institutional aid is awarded, to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution in the United States. In all, 467 semifinalists were chosen from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants nationwide this year.
“Our Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship represents a lifeline for exceptional community college students to actualize their academic dreams,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Executive Director of the Cooke Foundation in a statement. “This year’s semifinalists exemplify the extraordinary talent found within community colleges across America, and we’re excited to congratulate this group as we celebrate a quarter century of work as a Foundation.”
In addition to the financial support, selected Cooke Transfer Scholars receive educational advising from the Foundation’s Deans of Scholar Support to help them transition to a four-year school and prepare for their future careers.
The 19 LSC semifinalists on the following campuses are:
- LSC-CyFair: Jaquelyn Galvan* and Mahmoud Masoud*
- LSC-Kingwood: Maria Hernandez* and Gabriela Ortiz*
- LSC-Montgomery: Mialexa Cruz*, Bethany Lasco*, Yoseline Mendoza* and Mia Pierson*
- LSC-North Harris: Warda Binte Zahid*, Jada-Kai Johnson*, Jonathan Rodriguez**, Ramon Rodriguez** and Elizabeth Rubio**
- LSC-Tomball: Daylen Heidt**, Yasmin Moreno** and Georgina Palomo*
- LSC-University Park: Naomi Felder*, Gabriela Galue* and Fabian Infante*
*LSC The Honors College student
**LSC Global Scholars student
These students are part of The LSC Honors College or LSC Global Scholars programs that offer various opportunities, enriching their college experience through travel, off-campus educational and cultural events, service learning projects, seminars and more.
The LSC semifinalists will be formally recognized during a celebration in May, along with the announcement of the 2025 scholarship finalists. Learn more about the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship at JKCF.org/Our-Scholarships/Undergraduate-Transfer-Scholarship.
Lone Star College System enrolls over 90,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS 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 LSCS, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2024 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.