Five students from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College were selected as semifinalists for the highly selective and competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. They are Edgar Marquez of Gautier, Austin Baldwin of D’Iberville, Ciara Brewer of Lucedale, Gloria Giddes of Gulfport and Katelyn Winstead of Ocean Springs. 

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced in January the semifinalists for its highly selective Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. 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.

This year’s 456 semifinalists were chosen from a pool of nearly 1,500 applicants attending 311 community colleges in 45 states and the District of Columbia.

The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients will be announced in April. Selected scholars will receive financial support for up to three years, comprehensive educational advising, and the chance to connect with fellow Cooke Scholars.  MGCCC had two scholars chosen last year from five semifinalists.

Cooke Transfer Scholars are selected based on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service to others, and leadership. Students must be currently enrolled community college students or recent graduates residing in the United States.