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Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

@thejkcf

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We’re dedicated to advancing the education of tomorrow’s leaders.

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📣 Big news: The Cooke College Scholarship and Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship applications are both officially open!

This is more than a scholarship. If you're a high-achieving student with financial need, this could be your opportunity to graduate college debt-free with transformative educational support.

▶️ High school seniors: Apply for the Cooke College Scholarship via Common App. Deadline: November 11.

▶️ Community college students planning to transfer: Apply for the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship via Common App for Transfer. Deadline: December 9.

Imagine more - start your application today! by @thejkcf

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2 months ago

Meet Somi, one of the inspiring new Scholars in the 2026 Cooke Scholar cohort. A graduate of Seward High School in Alaska, Somi is now studying biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

Listen as Somi shares what inspires her to dream big and work toward a future where healthcare is more accessible in communities like her hometown.

✨ Imagine more - join the next wave of Scholars and apply today: www.jkcf.org/apply by @thejkcf

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2 days ago

When we recently celebrated our 25th anniversary, it gave us a chance to reflect on the waves of impact that the Foundation’s programs and initiatives have created for thousands of people

This summer when we gathered for Scholars Weekend, we met the next wave - the 176 amazing individuals who make up our newest cohorts of College and Transfer Scholars.

And now we want you to meet them too.

Over the next eight weeks we’re going to introduce you to a group of these Scholars who embody the potential that can be realized when talent meets opportunity. In them, we see a brighter future for us all.

First up is Urwa, a Transfer Scholar who is a recent graduate of Kingsborough Community College and is now studying mechanical engineering at Cornell.

Imagine more - join the next wave of Scholars and apply today at the link in our bio. by @thejkcf

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10 days ago

✨ College dreams don't have to come with overwhelming debt!

The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is currently accepting applications from high-achieving community college students with financial need who are planning to transfer to a four-year institution in the fall. It's more than a scholarship; beyond funding, Cooke Scholars gain access to advising, networking opportunities, and a community dedicated to helping them reach their full potential.

➡️ Applications are open now in the Common App for Transfer. Learn more and apply at: https://www.jkcf.org/apply

#Scholarships #HigherEducation #CollegeAccess #CommunityCollege #StudentSuccess #JackKentCookeFoundation by @thejkcf

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18 days ago

Cooke Scholar Alum Tala Alahmar recently took us along to share what a day in her life was like working on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Tala is a great example of the thousands of Cooke Scholars who are out in the world making a difference and working to create a brighter future for us all!

#JKCF #CookeScholars #ConnectedByPurpose #DayInMyLife by @thejkcf

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a month ago

📣 High School Seniors: Did you know that Common App now features scholarship matching? First-year students can now directly match with scholarship opportunities they're eligible for within Common App!

Start your Common App today to find out if you are eligible for the Cooke College Scholarship! https://www.commonapp.org/scholarship-matching by @thejkcf

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a month ago

The application dates for all three Cooke Scholarship Programs are here! Don't forget to sign up to be notified for the programs you're most interested in so you don't miss your chance to apply. Click the link in bio to make sure you're on our mailing list for reminders!

College Scholarship Application Dates
📅 August 19, 2026 – November 11, 2026

Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Application
📅 August 19, 2026 – December 9, 2026

Young Scholars Program Application
📅 February 4, 2027 - April 28, 2027 by @thejkcf

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2 months ago

32/40: Every year I get to come back to Scholars Weekend, I still catch myself looking around and thinking… How did I get here? 🥹

For a long time, opportunities like this also came with a little voice questioning my place. Like: why do I get to experience all of this?

Over time, that guilt has slowly turned into gratitude… and responsibility.

@thejkcf didn’t just invest in my education. They invested in me. In my potential. In a version of me that neither of us could fully see yet.

And I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned is to pay attention to what people give you beyond the opportunity itself.

Sometimes it’s a connection or it’s someone seeing something in you that you couldn’t see yet. Sometimes it’s just being in a room that makes you think bigger.

And I try to bring pieces of those experiences back with me.

So much of what we’re building at @omenamovement has been shaped by things I’ve learned, people I’ve met, and communities I’ve had the privilege of being part of.

I think that’s the beautiful thing about investing in people: you don’t always know where the ripple effect will end. ✨

#jkc #scholarsweekend #scholars by @thejkcf

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2 months ago

The newest cohorts of Cooke College and Transfer Scholars came together last weekend for our annual Scholars Weekend. They learned more about their scholarship and the support available to them from Foundation staff, and connected with Cooke Scholar Alumni who provided inspiration, mentorship, and actionable insights for the journey ahead.

Dan Porterfield, the Foundation's new CEO, was blown away by the talent and energy of the Cooke Scholar community that he witnessed his first time at the event and shares his message to the community here! by @thejkcf

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2 months ago

We are thrilled to share that the Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF) has received a $100,000 grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation!

As KEF marks its 20th anniversary, this meaningful partnership will strengthen our work across three vital programs:
🔹 The Kaplan Leadership Program (KLP): Providing holistic support, tutoring, and stipends to help scholars transfer to highly-selective universities.
🔹 The Community College Bridge Program: Guiding entering community college students for a successful community college experience.
🔹 The Transfer Hub: Our digital platform simplifying and centralizing the transfer process for students nationwide.

This support comes alongside incredible proof of what happens when missions align: two current KLP scholars—Nataly Briones and Pamela De León Berroa—were named 2026 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars, joining several generations of KLP Scholars who are also JKC Transfer Scholars.

Thank you to the @thejkcf for your shared commitment to creating life-changing pathways for community college talent.

🔗 Read the full press release in the comments below!

#KaplanEducationalFoundation #KaplanLeadershipProgram #DreamBig #TransferStudents #CommunityCollege #JackKentCookeFoundation by @thejkcf

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2 months ago

Last week, Washington, D.C. area Jack Kent Cooke Scholars joined Ron Brown Scholars at the Legal Launch Colloquium – a two-day event providing high-achieving pre-law Scholars exposure to the legal industry.

In its second year, the program was hosted by law firms Gibson Dunn and Wilson Sonsini. Scholars gained practical exposure to the legal profession through workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with accomplished attorneys. Scholars also participated in breakout sessions tailored to their academic stage and received guidance on topics ranging from the law school application process to bar exam preparation.

Following the event, Scholars can continue their engagement through the Legal Launch Connect Community, fostering ongoing mentorship, peer support, and professional development.

Thank you to @gibsondunnandcrutcher , @wilson_sonsini , and @ronbrownscholars for your partnership and for sharing your time and expertise to inspire these future legal professionals!
#cookescholars #jkcf by @thejkcf

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4 months ago

Let’s go, Andre and Ernesto! 🔥 Welcome to the Cooke Scholar community! #jkcf #cookescholars

Repost from @glendalecollege
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Glendale Community College is proud to celebrate Vaqueros Andre Christopher and Ernesto Lozada Gutierrez, who have been selected as 2026 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars (@thejkcf). For the second consecutive year, GCC students have earned the prestigious national scholarship, which recognizes exceptional community college students transferring to four-year universities. This year’s scholars were chosen from a pool of more than 1,300 applicants.

Andre, who commutes three hours roundtrip to GCC, and Ernesto, a recent immigrant from Cuba, are both Mechanical Engineering majors whose unique experiences and perspectives have shaped their academic success and personal growth.

Andre plans to continue his academic journey at either UCLA or UC Berkeley. Reflecting on his path, Andre shared, “I saw Glendale Community College as the perfect place for a second chance at myself academically.”

As he prepares to transfer, Andre says, “Receiving this scholarship is absolutely surreal. I feel incredibly grateful. So many wonderful opportunities have presented themselves to me, and it honestly still doesn’t feel real.”

Ernesto, who will transfer to California State University, Northridge (CSUN), said GCC “became much more than a school for me—it became a place where I found support, opportunities, and a community that believed in my potential.”

He added, “Perseverance and determination truly make anything possible.”

To students just beginning their journey at GCC, Ernesto offers this advice: “Don’t underestimate yourself or your potential. Many opportunities seem impossible at first, but growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone and believe in your abilities.”

Congratulations to Andre and Ernesto on this remarkable achievement and the bright futures that lie ahead.

#ConnectToGCC #ConnectToTomorrow #JackKentCookeScholars CommunityCollege StudentSuccess by @thejkcf

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4 months ago