Three Austin Community College (ACC) students are semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. 

Cooke Transfer Scholars are selected based on exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service to others, and leadership. This year’s semifinalists were chosen from a pool of nearly 1,500 applicants.

“Being a Jack Kent Cooke Semifinalist is not only a mind-blowing opportunity, but it also has an amazing impact on my applications to four-year universities,” says Jamille Souza Madeira, ACC Computer Science/Information Technology graduate. “I didn’t have the money to go straight to college after high school. So, I first went to work as an ESL teacher in Brazil. After six years, I saved enough money and earned my student visa to leave Brazil and come to ACC. I got involved and relied upon so many resources at ACC to get ahead, including Honors College, Phi Theta Kappa, learning labs, and Student Life.”

Through this award, the Foundation supports high-achieving community college students as they transfer to some of the best four-year institutions in the country to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

“Year after year, we are impressed by the incredible talent and resolve of community college students,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “We are proud to recognize this outstanding group of semifinalists for their academic achievement.”

Selected scholars receive financial support of up to $40,000 per year for up to three years, comprehensive educational advising, and the chance to connect with fellow Cooke Scholars.

A complete list of this year’s Cooke Transfer Scholar Semifinalists, their community colleges, and the states they represent is available here. Finalists will be announced in April.