Scholarships for Community College Students and Recent Alumni Offered

Randolph Community College students and alumni who earned a degree since spring 2006 and have not since transferred to a four-year college are eligible to apply for the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

The private foundation will award up to $30,000 annually per recipient to help students and recent alumni from community colleges and two-year institutions pursue four-year degrees at any accredited college or university in the United States. Last year, the Foundation received approximately 500 nominations for these awards.

While 45 percent of all college students in the United States attend community colleges, few private funds are available to help top community college students transfer to four-year institutions, in spite of their high levels of ability and need. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarships can provide funding for tuition, room and board, required fees, and books for the length of the undergraduate degree, generally two years. Award amounts will vary based on such factors as the cost of the institution each recipient attends.

The Foundation plans to award approximately 60 scholarships through this program in spring 2011, a 50% increase over 2010. It will renew awards each year based upon student performance.

The application deadline is January 7, 2011. An online application is available on the Foundation's Web site, www.jkcf.org. All candidates for the scholarship must be nominated by a representative at their college. RCC students with questions can contact Julie New, financial aid specialist, at jhnew@randolph.edu or 336-633-0364.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to helping young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education. The Foundation provides challenging opportunities to high achievers from lower-income families through its Young Scholars Program, generous scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study, and grants to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.