(PHOENIX, Ariz., Jan. 5, 2004) – Exceptional Phoenix College students with financial need are encouraged to apply for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship. Information and application packets are available through the Phoenix College Scholarship Office.

This year, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, which runs one of the country’s largest and most competitive private scholarship programs, announced that it will focus its undergraduate scholarship program on students transferring from community college to pursue four-year degrees at any accredited college or university in the United States or abroad. Previously, the Foundation had also made awards to students already attending four-year institutions.

The Foundation’s new Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program represents the largest private initiative in US history to enable community college students to earn four-year degrees. With the change, students at 1,900 accredited community colleges and two-year institutions in the US and alumni who have graduated from those institutions since May 1999 may compete for scholarships that could total as much as $30,000 per student.

"Exceptional students who attend community college and have financial need deserve the opportunity to earn a four-year degree," said Dr. Matthew J. Quinn, Foundation’s executive director. "We want to make sure that financial obstacles do not prevent the best among them from further advancing their education and pursuing their dreams."

The Foundation’s program brings attention and funding to an area requiring both. The most recent statistics from the American Association of Community Colleges indicate that enrollment at community colleges continues to increase. Yet, while nearly 45 percent of all college students in the United States attend community colleges, few private funds are available to help these students transfer to four-year institutions, in spite of their high levels of ability and need.

The Foundation plans to award approximately 30 scholarships in Spring 2004 for the 2004-2005 academic year. It will renew each award in subsequent years based upon performance.

For more information, please call (602) 285-7666 or visit the Office of Alumni & Development on the Osbron Campus (OSE 106).

The Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 2000 by the estate of Jack Kent Cooke to help young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education. Mr. Cooke was a businessman and philanthropist who owned such professional sports teams as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Redskins as well as the Chrysler Building in New York City. When he died in 1997, he left most of his fortune to establish the Foundation. Besides the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program, the Foundation's’ programs for outstanding students with financial need also include full scholarships for students attending graduate and professional school as well as scholarships to help high-achieving youth develop their talents and abilities throughout high school.

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