Udya Dewanamuni, a student from Suffolk County Community College, has been awarded the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This scholarship is a highly competitive national award that offers up to $55,000 annually to help students complete their bachelor's degrees. Dewanamuni is one of 90 community college students nationwide selected for this honor and becomes the thirteenth recipient from her college in its 66-year history.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation provides more than just financial support; it offers personalized advising and access to a network of over 3,400 scholars and alumni. These resources include opportunities for internships, study abroad programs, and graduate school support.
This year’s selection process involved over 1,600 applications from community colleges across the country. From these applicants, 467 semifinalists were chosen before narrowing down to the final 90 recipients. The evaluation criteria included academic achievement, financial need, persistence, and leadership qualities.
Dewanamuni majors in Physics with a perfect GPA of 4.0 and has consistently appeared on the Dean’s List. She holds multiple roles at Suffolk County Community College, including Vice President of Leadership for Phi Theta Kappa and President of the Math Club. Her academic accolades include awards such as the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence and Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar. She plans to study Chemical and Biological Engineering in the fall and awaits admission decisions from several prestigious universities.
Dr. Edward Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College, expressed pride in Dewanamuni's accomplishments: “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Udya for achieving this remarkable honor.” Sean Tvelia, Professor at Suffolk County Community College, also praised her contributions: “Udya is the epitome of a great student...her impact reaches far beyond her own academic success.”
Dewanamuni shared her excitement about receiving the scholarship: "Being selected as a Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholar is an incredible honor that allows me to continue my academic journey towards becoming a physician-scientist."
Suffolk County Community College serves over 21,000 students within the State University of New York system and has an extensive alumni network committed to regional workforce needs.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has awarded nearly $304 million in scholarships since its inception in 2000 and continues supporting promising students with financial needs through various educational initiatives.