Media Release: JKCF Hosts 12th Annual Scholars Weekend

Lansdowne, VA – To advance its commitment to supporting exceptional students with financial need, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is hosting its 12th annual Scholars Weekend, August 1-4, at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, VA.

The Foundation will convene panels, speakers, and other activities for nearly 450 new and ongoing Jack Kent Cooke Scholars and alumni from across the country, allowing them to engage in high-level intellectual exploration, build strong relationships, showcase their talents, and provide tools that will enable Scholars to transition to the next phase of their education or careers.

“Scholars Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for Jack Kent Cooke Scholars to get to know each other and Foundation staff, build on their skills, and share their talents and passions,” said Lawrence Kutner, Ph.D., the Foundation’s executive director.

The 2013 Scholars Weekend will include Scholar presentations about their personal and professional interests, a college fair for Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars with representatives from more than 60 colleges, a Scholar talent show, and a reception and dinner with keynote speaker Raul Magdaleno.  Raul is an alumnus of the 2004 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program who created the Magdaleno Leadership Institute to help low-income students attend college.

The banquet will feature the presentation of two annual prizes, the Matthew J. Quinn Prize ($10,000 award) and the Matthew J. Quinn Youth Leadership Award ($5,000 award) to Yasmine Arrington and Eva Albalghiti, respectively.  Both are Foundation Scholars and Washington, DC area residents who are being recognized for outstanding achievement in community service.

For the first time, Scholars Weekend is open to the media.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Because we believe that high-potential, low-income students will excel educationally when given the resources to develop their talents, the Foundation supports exceptional students from elementary school to graduate school through scholarships, grants, direct service, and knowledge creation and dissemination. Founded in 2000 by the estate of Jack Kent Cooke, the Foundation has awarded $100 million in scholarships to more than 1,900 students, and $70 million in grants to organizations that support our mission.  www.jkcf.org

Please contact Heather Reams, Director of Communications, for all media inquiries.

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