The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced that Roberson Jean of Colby Community College is among the semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Through the program, the Foundation awards community college students who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, leadership, service, and a determination to complete their bachelor's degrees at top four-year institutions. 

Jean is a sophomore pre-engineering major from Haiti and intends to pursue a degree in environmental and civil engineering, focusing on structural engineering.

"I have witnessed the consequences of deadly natural disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, landslides," he said. "I want to use my knowledge to mitigate the impacts of these natural disasters in my community and the world in general."

The Cooke Transfer Scholarship is designed to create a clear pathway to a four-year degree by offering up to $55,000 per year, along with academic advising and access to a network of peers. This year's 459 semifinalists were chosen from a pool of more than 1,700 applicants and attend 215 community colleges in 38 states. Jean is one of just five students from Kansas.

He said he was emotional as he read the email from the Cooke Foundation.

"I got mixed feelings and didn't know what to say. Shortly, the happiness took over all other feelings I had."

He is actively involved in campus life, serving as a math tutor for Student Support Services, a student ambassador in the admissions office, and a resident assistant in student housing. Earlier this month, he was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of community colleges.

"CCC is definitely a place that helps students grow academically and socially. I will forever be grateful for the time I spent here. I am thankful for the faculty who made it easy to learn and the teachers dedicated to our success as students. I think this accomplishment is due thanks to God, my dedication to work hard, and the teachers who accepted to submit the recommendation letters."

The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship offers unparalleled support to community college students. In addition to the generous financial support, selected Cooke Transfer Scholars receive educational advising from the Foundation's Deans of Scholar Support to guide them through transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for their future endeavors. They will also have access to opportunities for internships, study abroad, graduate school funding, and the incomparable connection to a robust network of more than 3,000 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni.

"By lifting the financial burden of pursuing a four-year degree off their shoulders, our goal is to help students take full advantage of a four-year college experience without taking on student debt," said Seppy Basili, Executive Director of the Cooke Foundation. "This year's selected semifinalists reflect the deep bench of talent across our community colleges today, and we're looking forward to getting to know them better in our final application review process."

The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients will be announced in April. A complete list of the semifinalists is on the Cooke Foundation website.