Rebecca Davis and Meghan Nguyen, two students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, were the only students in Mississippi selected to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Student Scholarship.  The prestigious award was offered to 61 students nationally, from more than 1,500 applications.

The highly competitive national scholarship will provide recipients with up to $40,000 annually for a maximum of three years to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

“We are so pleased that two of our students were selected for this outstanding award,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president.  “Our goal is to ensure our students have these kinds of opportunities through our Honors College and other organizations, and that our academic rigor prepares them for both the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Five MGCCC students were selected as semifinalists this year, a record number for the college and the state.

Davis, of Moss Point, is a member of the Honors College and serves as vice president of Public Relations for the Phi Theta Kappa chapter at the Jackson County Campus. She won the award for Composition in 2018.  She has a Dean’s Scholarship and Honors College Scholarship from MGCCC and recently received the China-Barber Memorial Scholarship from The University of South Alabama.

Nguyen, of Ocean Springs, is in the Jackson County Campus Hall of Fame and Who’s Who Among MGCCC Students and won both the Mathematics Award and Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished Chapter Officer Award.  She received an Academic Excellence Scholarship and Honors College Scholarship at MGCCC and was named a Pearson Scholar in August 2018. Active in campus events, she is a member of the Honors College, Student Government Association, Oaks Club and Reflections Team.

In addition to the monetary award, the Cooke Transfer Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising from Foundation staff to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for their careers. The Foundation will additionally provide opportunities for internships, study abroad and graduate-school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of nearly 2,500 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni.  After earning bachelor’s degrees, Cooke Scholars will also be eligible to apply for a scholarship for graduate school worth up to $50,000 a year for up to four years.

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 $190 million in scholarships to nearly 2,500 students, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided more than $100 million in grants to organizations that serve students.