This is to announce the 2008 Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.

The scholarship can yield up to $30,000 annually. However, it is awarded to only 50 community college students nationally. Those who apply must have their applications forwarded through an official nominating committee, which is being run through the Honors Program. No more than two applications may be forwarded from each community college. And the selection process is open to all students who meet the criteria and wish to apply. 

The selection criteria include: academic ability and achievement; unmet financial need; will to succeed; leadership and public service; critical thinking ability; and appreciation for or participation in the arts and humanities.

You must also have a 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale, plan to transfer to a 4-year institution to begin studies in the fall of 2008, and have sophomore status by December 31, 2007 or have graduated as of May 2002 or later.

The application is daunting, so please leave plenty of time to complete the process. Applications must be received by the JKC Foundation (through the nominating committee) by the beginning February, 2008. And I will need your completed packet by December 16, 2007 (the last day of fall semester) in order for the nominating committee to have time to review the applications and to make its decision. You may send your completed packet to me at Pima Community College, NW. The address is 7600 North Shannon Road, Tucson, AZ 85709-7050. My office is A309.

More information is available at www.jackkentcookefoundation.org. At the moment, it still displays information about last year’s competition, but it will be updated in early October. Although you will not want to work on more specific aspects of the application until the site has been updated, you may still begin some of the more generic processes, such as getting your references together and gathering the financial documentation that you will need.

If you are interested in starting the application process, you may contact me at kvorndran@pima.edu or at 206-2162.

Thanks and good luck to those who decide to apply.

Ken Vorndran

Chair of Business and Professions

Honors Coordinator

Pima Community College, NW