Normandale Community College students Monirottana Say and Anderson Soth were named semifinalists for the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.
Say and Soth were two of the three selections from the State of Minnesota. They were also two of 467 semifinalists chosen from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants that attend 212 community colleges in 43 states.
Normandale is the only two-year college in the state to have multiple semifinalists, and one of 85 colleges in the nation to have two or more representatives.
The rigorous selection process assesses candidates on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, demonstrated financial need, perseverance, and leadership
This transformative scholarship empowers exceptional community college students with financial need to transfer to the nation’s top four-year institutions while avoiding the burden of student debt. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution in the U.S.
“Our Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship represents a lifeline for exceptional community college students to actualize their academic dreams,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Executive Director of the Cooke Foundation. “This year’s semifinalists exemplify the extraordinary talent found within community colleges across America, and we’re excited to congratulate this group as we celebrate a quarter century of work as a Foundation.”
The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides comprehensive support that extends far beyond financial assistance, recognizing that admission and enrollment are only the beginning. This scholarship is designed to help students not only reach college but successfully navigate and complete their journey. Selected Cooke Transfer Scholars receive personalized educational advising from the Foundation’s Deans of Scholar Support, who guide them through the transition to a four-year institution and help prepare them for future careers. Scholars also gain access to transformative opportunities including internships, study abroad experiences, and graduate school funding, as well as inclusion in a thriving community of more than
3,400 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni who provide mentorship and networking connections throughout their academic and professional lives.
A list of this year’s Cooke Transfer Scholar semifinalists and their respective community colleges can be found at the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship website. The Foundation will announce the 2025 Undergraduate Transfer Scholars in May.
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