Lansdowne, Va. – (May 6) Two NOVA Nighthawks have been chosen as recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s 2024 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. They are among 60 national high-achieving community college students selected to receive this prestigious scholarship out of 459 semifinalists.
Catherine Ercilla will graduate from NOVA on Sunday, May 12, with an A.S. in science. Judy Marouf will graduate with two degrees, an A.S. in computer science and another in business administration. Anne M. Kress, president of NOVA, had the pleasure of announcing the incredible news to the two newly minted Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship winners. Both students were overcome with emotion, as were their family members.
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer scholarship, which recognizes the academic excellence of community college students, seeks to alleviate the burden of undergraduate education debt. After institutional aid is applied, recipients are awarded up to $55,000 per year for two or three years to complete their bachelor’s degree.
“Individuals who receive the transfer scholarship are also in line for future scholarships from Jack Kent Cooke and obviously from the institutions themselves,” Kress told those attending the announcement celebration.
When asked by President Kress about her college plans and how she feels about being named a finalist, Catherine said, “This is just overwhelming to me because it gives me the liberty to choose any school.” President Kress responded, “It gives you the liberty to choose any school, but I have to turn that around. I think those schools would be lucky to have you.”
Catherine, who has already completed an internship with the National Institutes of Health, plans to earn her bachelor’s in biology with a minor in French. Her long-term goal is to become a doctor and pursue oncology research. Ultimately, she would like to work for an organization such as Doctors Without Borders to help disadvantaged communities globally.
Judy Marouf will continue her education in the D.C. area, where she plans on earning her bachelor's in computer science with a minor in business. She also intends to pursue a master's degree in the future. As president and co-founder of NOVA's Women in STEM club, which boasts more than 200 members, Judy is passionate about increasing the number of women in STEM fields. Her overarching career goal is to move into leadership roles in the tech industry, where she can work to improve communication and collaboration between technical teams to advance business directives.
“Community college students remain far too underrepresented at our nation’s top institutions, despite clear research demonstrating their success once they arrive. Our scholarship is one way we aim to ensure that high-achieving students have the opportunity to complete their degree where they want, regardless of their financial background,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
In the past 15 years, 24 NOVA students have been awarded the prestigious Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This year, more than 1,600 applicants from over 380 community colleges applied to receive the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.
Please see the press release for a list of finalists by state and community.
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 almost $282 million in scholarships to more than 3,300 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $133 million in grants to organizations that serve such students.