Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College student Marissa Barajas has been named a semifinalist for the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a prestigious award that provides high-achieving community college students with the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degrees at top four-year institutions.

Barajas, a student at MGCCC’s Jackson County Campus, is a Moss Point resident pursuing a degree in software engineering. She plans to transfer to a university to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees upon graduation.

In addition to excelling academically, Barajas is active on campus, holding several leadership roles. She serves as president of the Pi Epsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), vice president of the Campus Activities Board (CAB), and parliamentarian of the Student Government Association (SGA). She is also a member of the Oak Club and the Hispanic American Club.

The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is one of the most prestigious and generous transfer scholarships available to community college students nationwide. If selected as a recipient, Barajas could receive up to $55,000 per year to cover tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees at an accredited four-year institution. In addition to financial support, scholars benefit from personal advising, career development resources, and networking opportunities to help them succeed at their transfer institutions and beyond.

Barajas is among a select group of semifinalists chosen from thousands of applicants across the country. The final scholarship recipients will be announced later this spring.