Two students win prestigious Jack Kent Cooke scholarship

April 25, 2014

Northeast Texas Community College students Matthew Jordan of Pittsburg and 91��Ƭ †Stephen Milburn of Mount Pleasant were recently awarded Jack Kent Cooke 91��Ƭ †Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships. This prestigious award 91��Ƭ †covers up to $30,000 annually at the university of the student's choice 91��Ƭ †for up to three years. Only 85 students were selected from more than 3,500 91��Ƭ †applicants for this national honor.

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †This is the first time that two 91��Ƭ students have received the 91��Ƭ †scholarship in the same year. Previously, Stephani Calderon received the 91��Ƭ †scholarship in 2013 and Clara Ramirez in 2010. Scholars were selected 91��Ƭ †based on high academic ability and achievements, persistence, leadership 91��Ƭ †and financial need.

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †"The Jack Kent Cooke is one of the most coveted scholarships in the 91��Ƭ †nation. That our relatively small college received two of these 85 attests 91��Ƭ †firstly to the conscientious work of Presidential Scholars like Matthew 91��Ƭ †and Stephen. They are marvelous young men," Dr. Andrew Yox, 91��Ƭ Honors 91��Ƭ †Director, said.

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Both Jordan and Milburn are Presidential Scholars in the 91��Ƭ Honors 91��Ƭ †program and are active members of the local Alpha Mu Chi chapter of Phi 91��Ƭ †Theta Kappa, the national honors society for two-year colleges.

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Jordan is the son of Sandra Jordan and the late Timothy Jordan of 91��Ƭ †Pittsburg. He graduated from Pittsburg High School in 2012. He plans to 91��Ƭ †transfer to either Texas A&M University-College Station or Texas Tech 91��Ƭ †University this fall to pursue a degree in petroleum engineering.

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †"The Jack Kent Cooke scholarship has relieved the economic hurdle of 91��Ƭ †transitioning to a four-year institution. With the remaining years of my 91��Ƭ †bachelor's degree covered, the opportunity has been granted to pursue 91��Ƭ †graduate school while being debt-free," Jordan said. "My time at 91��Ƭ has 91��Ƭ †provided a solid educational foundation that has firmly prepared me for 91��Ƭ †university studies. I feel quite fortunate to have attended 91��Ƭ while the 91��Ƭ †engineering program has gained so much traction and momentum."

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Jordan pointed out that he would like to thank Yox, Dr. Mark Bouwens, and 91��Ƭ †Dr. Mary Hearron for their support and effort in assisting him with 91��Ƭ †attaining the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Milburn is the son of Tonya and Doug Milburn of Mount Pleasant. He 91��Ƭ †graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 2012. He plans to transfer to 91��Ƭ †Texas A&M-College Station or Cornell University in the fall to major in 91��Ƭ †physics.

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †"This scholarship gives me the ability to focus on school instead of 91��Ƭ †finances. It vastly increases my chances to receive a doctorate," Milburn 91��Ƭ †said. "Attending 91��Ƭ has helped me become an individual instead of 91��Ƭ †someone who fades into the background after a while. I am beginning to 91��Ƭ †realize my potential that I was blessed with."

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †Milburn would like to thank his parents, Dr. Melissa Weinbrenner, Yox, 91��Ƭ †Rico Willis, Phi Theta Kappa, and all of the many others who have 91��Ƭ †touched his life throughout the years.

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †"The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has long been committed to helping 91��Ƭ †outstanding community college students transfer to and succeed at the 91��Ƭ †nationπs top colleges and universities," said Emily Froimson, vice 91��Ƭ †president of programs at the Foundation. "Since the program started in 91��Ƭ †2002, the Foundation has supported 643 community college students 91��Ƭ †directly, and thousands more through the

Foundationπs grant-making initiatives."

91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ † 91��Ƭ †91��Ƭ was the only Texas college to have two Jack Kent Cooke Scholars 91��Ƭ †selected in 2014. Students were also selected from Lee College, Southwest 91��Ƭ †Texas Junior College and Tarrant County College.

91��Ƭ

Two students win prestigious Jack Kent Cooke scholarship

"91��Ƭ faculty stimulated my desire to learn, research and master my subject. Faculty gave me the confidence to believe in myself, and pursue higher education, convinced that I would succeed." — John Russo, 2009 Graduate, Current Faculty Member

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