Four Miami Dade College (MDC) Honors College graduates have been awarded prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships worth up to $40,000 per year to complete a bachelor’s degree.
This year’s winners are Daniela Alvarez (North Campus), Casey Amaya (Wolfson Campus), Fedeline Camille (Wolfson Campus) and Gabriela Rodriguez (InterAmerican Campus). In total, 26 MDC students have been awarded the acclaimed scholarship since 2002.
After immigrating from Cuba six years ago, Rodriguez discovered she had breast cancer. Her diagnosis did not stop her drive to succeed.
Despite her doctor telling her that her education would be disrupted by treatment, Rodriguez was an Honors College student, president of Phi Theta Kappa honor society at the InterAmerican Campus and a volunteer to help those affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria. The biology major’s desire is to help others has prompted her to seek to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Amaya also immigrated from Cuba. She served as the president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at the Wolfson Campus. The political major has interned at law firms and conducted a psychological research project on juvenile delinquency. Her ultimate career goal is to become the first female Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Camille and her family moved to the United States when she was 13 years old. Camille needed medical treatment for injuries she suffered during the earthquake that could have left her with an amputated leg. She is on the Dean’s List, a member of the All-USA Academic Team and The Dreams U.S. scholarship recipient. The biology major plans to pursue a medical degree in pediatric oncology.
Alvarez has a passion for international affairs and global diplomacy which peaked her interest in the French language. The tribulations that her parents faced as Cuban immigrants ignited a fire in her to push back on barriers and work tirelessly to achieve her dreams. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in international politics with minors in government and philosophy. Alvarez then plans to attend law school to specialize in immigration law.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is the largest private scholarship for colleges like MDC. The scholarship makes it possible for the nation’s top college students to complete their bachelor’s degrees by transferring to a selective four-year college or university. Only 45 students were selected from a very large and competitive nationwide pool. All of the scholars selected have financial need and very strong records of academic achievement as shown by grades, leadership skills, awards, extraordinary service to others and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The scholarships fund the costs of attending colleges or universities not covered by other financial aid, plus academic advising, stipends for internships, study abroad and opportunities to network with other Cooke Scholars and alumni.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the foundation has provided over $152 million in scholarships to nearly 2,200 students from eighth grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services. The foundation also has awarded over $90 million in grants to organizations that serve such students.
For more information, visit www.jkcf.org.
