2010 Nominee Guidelines - Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program

The Foundation will award approximately 30 scholarships to outstanding students to begin studies in fall 2010. Each award will cover a portion of educational expenses, including tuition, living expenses, and other required fees, and books for the final two to three years of the baccalaureate degree. Every scholarship varies, depending on the cost of attendance and other scholarships or grants received. 

The maximum award available per student is $30,000 per year. Scholars may use the award to attend any accredited college or university in the US or abroad in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree. The Foundation renews awards annually, provided the Jack Kent Cooke Scholar has maintained high academic performance, exhibited good conduct, made significant progress toward a degree, and complied with the Foundation’s administrative requirements and requests.
 

Deadlines

1) Nominee Application Deadline is January 20, 2010 (Closes at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
 
2) Nomination Deadline is January 26, 2010 (Closes at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
 
To be eligible, applications must be submitted online by January 20, 2010.  Faculty Representatives must submit the online nomination by January 26, 2010.  Letter of recommendation writers must submit their online recommendation by January 26, 2010.
 
Most community colleges establish earlier internal campus deadlines for their receipt of applications. Students should check with the faculty representative for their campus to determine their internal deadline.

 
Minimum Eligibility

Please review the Minimum Eligibility Requirements section of the Selection page to ascertain whether you are eligible to compete in the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program.
 
Keep in mind that competitive candidates exceed the Foundation and campus eligibility requirements.

Most two-year institutions will apply additional eligibility requirements. Your faculty representative can provide details.
 
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, sex, age, physical or mental disabilities, sexual orientation, or national origin. Foundation staff, board members, and their families are not eligible to apply.

 

General Information

Selected Scholars agree to comply with Foundation requirements and requests for the duration of the scholarship. Some key requirements and terms are:
  1. Scholars must pursue a full-time course of study in a baccalaureate degree program at an approved accredited institution, beginning with the fall 2010 term.
  2. Scholars must apply for federal and institutional financial assistance each year of study. The Foundation determines individual scholarship awards after reviewing each recipient’s other assistance offers.
  3. Scholars must attend the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholars Weekend, July 29-August 1, 2010. The Foundation will provide travel expenses, lodging, and meals.
 

Selection Criteria

With the assistance of a panel of national experts, the Foundation will select Scholars using these criteria:
 
  • Academic achievement and critical-thinking ability
  • Unmet financial need*
  • Will to succeed
  • Breadth of interests and activities
* Unmet financial need has two components: (i) education costs that exceed to an appreciable degree other grant awards and (ii) insufficient student and family income to meet educational costs. Students receiving full funding for their four-year degree will not be competitive for this scholarship. One possible indicator of financial need is that the applicant received need-based aid while in college. A portion of family income is considered for all applicants. Parents must be willing to complete the financial information forms regardless of age or independence status of the applicant.

To ensure a fair and objective review process, the Foundation does not comment on the review panel’s deliberations. The Foundation also does not comment on or reconsider applications after making award decisions. All applications and supporting documents become the property of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and, as such, will not be returned. By submitting an application, the applicant accepts the conditions stated in this document, the 2010 Nominee Guidelines – Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program.
 

Nomination Procedures

Accredited US community colleges appoint a faculty representative to lead the nomination process. 

Appointed faculty representatives

  • Publicize the scholarship program and identify candidates,
  • Determine and apply the institutional nomination criteria,
  • Lead the internal selection process to nominate up to two (2) applicants, and
  • Submit their online nominations by January 26, 2010 (Closes at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time).

Application Instructions

The online application must be submitted along with supporting documentation attached in PDF format, no later than January 20, 2010. Community colleges usually establish earlier internal campus deadlines so check with your faculty representative about your campus' deadline. 

Before submitting an online application and supporting documents to the faculty representative, applicants should ensure that they meet all Foundation and campus eligibility and submittal requirements. Applicants should follow directions carefully and complete all appropriate application sections. 
 
Applicants must download the Parent Financial Information Forms found on the Application Materials page.  Once completed, applicants may upload these forms into their online application. 

Faculty representatives review applications and nominate one or two candidates from their campus. 

Please note:

  • Applications not in compliance with any details specified in this document or the application form may be disqualified. (Failure to attach supporting documentation will make an application incomplete.)
  • Supporting documents may be attached in PDF format within the application. The Foundation will not consider faxed or emailed documents. If required documents cannot be obtained, the applicant must attach a letter of explanation in its place. 
  • Recreated or altered forms will not be considered. Applicants must use the Parent Financial Information Forms provided on the Foundation’s website or photocopies of the forms. 
  • The application must be written in English, and all supporting documents must be in English or translated into English. Translations must bear an original (not photocopied) mark of certification or official signature that the translation is true and complete.
  • The Foundation does not accept additions to an application subsequent to its submission. 


Submitting Your Application

The nominee(s) and faculty representative should coordinate their efforts to ensure that the complete online application is submitted by January 20 (Closes at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time) and the school's nomination is submitted no later than January 26, 2010 (Closes at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time).  Supporting documents or letters of explanation must be attached in PDF format only, within the online application.  Any supporting documents submitted after the application deadline, must be mailed directly to the Foundation’s processing center at the following address:

Mailing Address
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program
PO Box 4030
Iowa City, IA 52243

 
Shipping Address (overnight couriers, such as FedEx)
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program
301 ACT Drive
Iowa City, IA 52245
If a telephone number is required, use 800-498-6478.
 


Application Components Checklist

Each complete nomination will include the following:
 
Electronic Application

1. Application
  • Completed by applicant including:
    - Applicant Financial Information
    - Identification of Recommenders
    - Supporting financial documentation attached in PDF format only
    - Official transcripts, original (front and back) must be uploaded as a PDF attachment
    - Resume, must be uploaded as a PDF attachment 
 
2. Two letters of Recommendation
  • Completed online by recommenders
 
3. Institution Nomination
  • Completed online by faculty representative including:
    - Institution Nomination Rationale
    - Community College Profile 
 
Supporting Documentation
The official transcripts (front and back), must be uploaded in PDF format within the online application. Foreign language supporting documents must be officially translated into English.  Translations must bear an original (not photocopied) mark of certification or official signature that the translation is true and complete.
 
1. Official College Transcript(s) for ALL undergraduate coursework
  • one original (front and back) uploaded for each institution attended
2. High School Transcript(s), GED Scores, or Letter from Home-school Instructor
  • one original (front and back) uploaded for each institution attended

3. Resume/Curriculum Vitae - two pages maxium
  • uploaded in PDF format to the online application  
Candidates may attach in PDF format, in their application, the following supporting financial documentation. 
 
4. Applicant Tax Forms - including applicable W-2 forms, schedules, and attachments
  • one legible copy (no originals of tax forms required)
5. Parent Financial Information Forms – Parent Information Forms are required regardless of age or independence
    status of the applicant.
  • one original signed by the applicant and both of his or her parents 
6. Parent Tax Forms - including applicable W-2 forms, schedules, and attachments
  • one legible copy (no originals of tax forms required)
 
* Applicants and/or parents living abroad and not filing US taxes for 2008 must complete the forms as best as possible and attach a statement (in English or a certified translation into English) from the employer(s) listing all income and benefits for 2008.
              

Contact Information

For further information about the scholarship, please call 1-800-498-6478 or contact us.