Tri-C students named semifinalists for Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarships

January 03, 2018

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation selected a pair of Tri-C students as semifinalists in a highly competitive scholarship program designed to help community college scholars continue their education.

Malena Grigoli of Bay Village and Stephen Twum Barimah of Cleveland are among more than 500 students from across the nation recognized as Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholar semifinalists. The honorees emerged from a pool of 2,500 applicants.

Only three Ohio students were named semifinalists. They are now eligible for scholarships of up to $40,000 per year to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Scholarships will be awarded in April based on academic performance, leadership, perseverance and service to others.

"Community colleges hold many of the nation’s most gifted students,” said Harold O. Levy, executive director of the Cooke Foundation. “Yet too often these students are denied the opportunity to fulfill their potential due to lack of adequate resources and support. Our scholarships help to remove these barriers so that talented students with financial need have a chance to complete their college education and pursue their goals and dreams.”

Visit the Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship webpage to learn more.