SWTJC honor student earns prestigious Jack Kent Cooke transfer scholarship

Indira Lujano, a student at Southwest Texas Junior College at Eagle Pass is one of 61 recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive national scholarship will provide Lujano with up to $40,000 annually for a maximum of three years to complete her bachelor’s degree.

In addition to the monetary award, Lujano will receive comprehensive educational advising from Foundation staff to guide her through the process of transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for her career.

The Foundation will additionally provide opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of nearly 2,500 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni.

“Our recent ‘Persistence’ report highlights the vast potential, and achievements, of community college transfer students — who go on to outperform their non-transfer peers at selective four-year institutions” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “In an era where many high-achieving students often begin their higher education journey in community college due to financial need, the Foundation is committed to enabling these transfer students to pursue their academic dreams at the nation’s top colleges and universities.”

Lujano is the third SWTJC student to receive the scholarship in the last six years.

Nearly 1,500 students applied for the 2019 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Foundation evaluated each submission based on academic ability, persistence, leadership, and service to others. The recipients selected represent 18 different states have a median household adjusted gross income of $28,000 and an average GPA of 3.93. This year’s cohort of Cooke Transfer Scholars has applied to the nation’s most selective institutions.