Jack Kent Cooke Fdtn. Undergrad Transfer Scholarship Reminder and Tips
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offers a competitive scholarship for community college students with exceptional promise and demonstrated financial need to pursue a baccalaureate degree. Students in any discipline may apply. The award provides funding for tuition, room and board, required fees and books for the remainder (up to three years) of the scholar’s undergraduate degree.
The JKCF scholarship application website opened October 6. Applications will be accepted through January 12, 2023, and will only be accepted through The Common App.
Eligible scholarship applicants must meet all the criteria below:
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Demonstrate significant financial need.
- Be at least a sophomore (30 semester credits earned by December 31, 2022).
- No previous enrollment or attendance at a four-year institution.
- Plan to transfer and enroll full-time in an accredited four-year university for fall 2023.
Recommendation Letter
By now some faculty members may have received an email from students requesting a recommendation letter for this scholarship. If you have received a request from a student please read the information below.
What faculty should know about the recommendation requirements?
Two Recommendations are required for this application. The first required online recommendation form must be submitted by an academic professional (an advisor, instructor, or professor) well acquainted with the student’s work and character. This person must be an academic professional at the student’s current or most recent institution.
The second recommendation may be completed by an instructor, professor, advisor, or other person well acquainted with the student’s work and character. It is strongly suggested that the second recommendation is completed by an academic professional at student’s current or most recent two-year institution.
Recommendations will be submitted through the Common App for Transfer.
When will the recommender know that it is time to submit the recommendation?
Recommenders will receive an email with instructions after the student applies for the scholarship.
The email message will provide a link to the online form. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor the status of their application and to follow up with you regarding the recommendation letter to be sure you have received the instructions and completed online form.
How does the recommender verify and submit a recommendation?
After the recommenders have completed the online form, they will be able to review the information prior to submission. When the recommender is ready to submit the form, he/she must click “Submit” to certify that the recommendation is complete. A confirmation screen will appear to verify the recommendation has been submitted.
How long does the recommender have to submit their recommendation form?
The recommenders have until the application deadline to submit a recommendation. Applicants are encouraged to monitor the status of their application and communicate with their recommenders to make sure they successfully submit the form on time.
NOVA’s tips to recommenders!
The JKC Foundation has stressed consistently that competitive applicants’ recommendations will be strong and detailed. (“A weak recommendation will reflect poorly on the applicant and their institution”). Recommenders should address not only a student’s successful work in their course, but also their familiarity with the student’s accomplishments outside of the classroom and the student’s educational and career goals. A compelling recommendation will reflect the recommender’s confidence in the student’s high likelihood of success in their future endeavors.
It may be helpful – and necessary – for the student to provide the recommender with a resume and an “interview” so that the recommender can become sufficiently knowledgeable about the student to submit a helpful recommendation.
Recommendations are submitted online at the JKCF website. The student will identify the recommender, including email contact, to the Foundation, and the Foundation will contact the recommender with instructions to create an online account through which the recommendation will be submitted.
Submitted by:
Shawn Addison, Counselor, SAddison@nvcc.edu