GTCC student government president awarded the Jack Cooke Kent Foundation scholarship

“This scholarship is life changing. I have been dreaming for an opportunity like this for a long time, and it is surreal that it happened,” Catalina Aldana-Archila says.

JAMESTOWN, N.C. (May 27, 2025) – Guilford Technical Community College student Catalina Aldana-Archila was recently named as one of 90 community college students from across the country selected to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

The national scholarship aims for Cooke Scholars to complete their undergraduate education with as little debt as possible. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide Aldana-Archila with as much as $55,000 a year to complete a bachelor’s degree.

The GTCC student government president, Aldana-Archila recently graduated with an associate degree in chemistry. While at GTCC, she was also involved with the International Students Club, the Chemistry Club, and the Art Club.

This fall, Aldana-Archila will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She plans on attending medical school to become a physician or a physician scientist after earning her four-year degree.

“This scholarship is life changing. I have been dreaming for an opportunity like this for a long time, and it is surreal that it happened,” said Aldana-Archila. “I am immensely grateful for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and with all the people who helped me during the application process.”

The 2025 cohort marks one of the largest in the foundation’s 25-year history, reinforcing its continued commitment to creating debt-free pathways to higher education for high-achieving students with financial need.

“This year’s cohort reflects the remarkable talent and determination thriving in community colleges nationwide,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “As we mark 25 years of impact, we remain committed to amplifying the successes of these students and opening doors to the opportunities they deserve.”

While nearly 80 percent of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16 percent reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which aims to make this goal more attainable for selected students, provides last-dollar funding of up to $55,000 per year for up to three years with the goal of easing the financial burden of completing a four-year degree. Beyond funding, scholars receive personalized advising to guide their academic and professional journeys. Scholars also gain access to a nationwide network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars and alumni, along with opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school support.

This year’s selection process drew more than 1,600 applications from community colleges across the nation. The 90 new scholars were selected from a semifinalist pool of 467 students. Applicants were evaluated based on their academic achievement, unmet financial need, persistence, and leadership qualities.

For a complete list of the 2025 Cooke Transfer Scholar finalists and to learn more about the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit jkcf.org.

About The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded almost $304 million in scholarships to more than 3,400 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $136 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. jkcf.org.