Two MCPS Seniors Win Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarships

MCPS announced that two seniors have been named Cooke College Scholars by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Mariel Arevalo Ballon of Wheaton High School, and Melat Ghebreselassie of Springbrook High School, are two of 60 students being recognized across the entire country.

This scholarship helps students who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, leadership and persistence attend top universities and avoid student debt. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited undergraduate institution in the U.S.

60 students were selected this year after the field was narrowed down to 459 semifinalists who were chosen from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants. “In light of the challenges that hinder many community college students from achieving their goal of earning a bachelor’s degree, our Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship makes the journey more achievable and helps to eliminate the threat of student debt,” said Seppy Basili, Executive Director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

“The exceptional pool of talent among this year’s chosen semifinalists from community colleges showcases the vast potential within these institutions and we look forward to learning more about these students during the final stage of our application review.” The students who were selected will also receive ongoing academic coaching and advising, graduate school and career advising, and connections to a network of peers in the Cooke Scholar community.