Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Announces 2026 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Recipients
The 2026 cohort of 60 community college students will receive funding and support to attend four-year institutions
LANSDOWNE, VIRGINIA (May 12, 2026) – The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced today that 60 community college students will receive the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship to help them complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year institutions with a significantly reduced financial burden.
The Cooke Foundation is committed to expanding access to high-quality, debt-free pathways for high-achieving students with financial need. While nearly 80% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16% reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship aims to help more students persist and complete their degrees by reducing financial barriers and providing the academic and advising support needed to navigate the transfer process.
“These Scholars reflect the depth of talent and determination found in community colleges across the country,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Chief Executive Officer of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “They’ve demonstrated what they’re capable of, and we’re proud to help ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent them from continuing their education and realizing their full potential.”
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides last dollar funding after all institutional aid and can provide as much as $55,000 per year to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited undergraduate institution. Beyond financial support, Scholars receive personalized advising to guide their academic and professional journeys. They also gain access to a nationwide network of more than 3,900 Cooke Scholars and Alumni, along with opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school support, ensuring they have the tools needed to thrive beyond community college.
This year’s selection process drew more than 1,300 applications from community colleges across the country. The 60 new Scholars were selected from a semifinalist pool of 485 students. Applicants were evaluated based on academic achievement, perseverance, and leadership.
A complete list of the 2026 Cooke Transfer Scholar finalists and their respective community colleges is available below. To learn more about the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit the website here.
Alabama
Taylor Grace – Lawson State Community College
Arizona
Temya Jackson Long – GateWay Community College
California
Andrea Anderson – Cañada College
Alexander Aurich – MiraCosta College
Navaneet Baniya – College of Alameda
Michael Battisto – Berkeley City College
Andre Christopher – Glendale Community College
Razi ElHusseini – San Diego Mesa College
Ernesto Lozada Gutierrez – Glendale Community College
Ahyan Malik – Laney College
Jonathan Maloney – College of the Desert
Mykyta Motin – Contra Costa College
Mohammed Mudhafar – Long Beach City College
Martin Orea – Santa Monica College
Noor Raad – East Los Angeles College
Oleksandr Sharlai – San Diego Mesa College
Florida
Johnny Barahona – Miami Dade College
Stacey Cregg – Florida State College at Jacksonville
Lucilida Hodge – Santa Fe College
David Ramirez – Miami Dade College
Maria Romero – Miami Dade College
Georgia
Navila Azad – Perimeter College at Georgia State University
Ndeye Sarr – Perimeter College at Georgia State University
Illinois
Elizabeth Barajas – City Colleges of Chicago: Malcolm X College
Sabrina Bernard – City Colleges of Chicago: Harry S. Truman College
Julia Kantor – City Colleges of Chicago: Wilbur Wright College
Juana Sanchez Castillo – Prairie State College
Iowa
Lama Mohamed – Kirkwood Community College
Maine
Jadin Wilson – Eastern Maine Community College
Maryland
Celina De Caul – Community College of Baltimore County
Sanjana Gaddam – Community College of Baltimore County
Massachusetts
Michael Hannigan – Greenfield Community College
Michigan
Luciana Trigoso Salazar – Schoolcraft College
Minnesota
Hsu Lay Wai – Minneapolis College
Mississippi
Katie Carter – Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Diego Sosa Vazquez – Pearl River Community College
New Jersey
Katherine Jovel – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
Mel Mancheno – Middlesex College
Marlon Pena Crespo – Hudson County Community College
New Mexico
Sammy Lopez – Southeast New Mexico College
New York
Nataly Briones – CUNY: LaGuardia Community College
Erin Covan – Dutchess Community College
Ashley Cozayatl – SUNY: Westchester Community College
Pamela De Leon Berroa – CUNY: Queensborough Community College
Golam Fahim – CUNY: Borough of Manhattan Community College
Vireak Hom – CUNY: Borough of Manhattan Community College
Urwa Faraz Malik – CUNY: Kingsborough Community College
Mariia Yanovska – CUNY: Borough of Manhattan Community College
Sitora Yusupova – CUNY: Borough of Manhattan Community College
North Carolina
Kyaw Moo – Durham Technical Community College
Oklahoma
Luke Crocker – Tulsa Community College
Katelyn Long – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
Oregon
Ray Randall – Central Oregon Community College
Pennsylvania
Daniel Emdin – Community College of Philadelphia
Texas
Emily Salinas – Lone Star College System
Milagro Salinas – Lone Star College System
Virginia
Lina Chimasuque Panqueva – Northern Virginia Community College
Ariel Ticona – Northern Virginia Community College
Washington
Jennifer El Khoury – Everett Community College
*One additional Transfer Scholar did not opt into publicity
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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. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded over $332 million in scholarships to nearly 3,900 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising, career pathway counseling, and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $144 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. For more information, visit www.jkcf.org.
Media inquiries may contact Laura Karwoski at media@jkcf.org.