Luciana Trigoso is the second Schoolcraft student in two years to receive the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship.
A Schoolcraft College graduate has earned the most prestigious transfer scholarship in the nation.
Luciana Trigoso, who graduated this spring with an Associate of Science Degree, has been named a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, joining 60 others across the country. That designation will provide her with up to $55,000/year for up to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited undergraduate institution.
Trigoso, a Livonia Stevenson High School alumna, said she dual enrolled at Schoolcraft College while in high school, allowing her to complete her associate degree just one year after graduating high school.
“I always wanted to come here since my freshman year of high school. I just wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do with my life yet,” she said. “It ended up being a good thing for me, because after I started my math sequence, I began to adopt more study methods and began to meet a lot of people here.
“I think having that support motivated me to keep going and do better.”
She will continue her education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she plans to major in premed. She was also selected for a summer internship at U-M as part of their Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program.
Trigoso is the eighth Schoolcraft College student to earn the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship in the institution’s history and is the only recipient this year from Michigan. This year marks the second year in a row Schoolcraft has a Jack Kent Cooke scholar: former student Skyler Umney received the scholarship last year.
“The Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship is the most prestigious and competitive transfer scholarship in the country, and we’re so proud of Luciana for earning this remarkable achievement,” said Dr. Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Chief Student Service Officer. “This opportunity will provide Luciana not only with financial support to continue her education, but with a great network of fellow scholars to connect with.”
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship aims to help more students persist and complete their degrees by reducing financial barriers and providing the academic and advising support needed to navigate the transfer process.
This year’s selection process drew more than 1,300 applications from community colleges across the country. The 60 new Scholars were selected from a semifinalist pool of 485 students. Applicants are evaluated based on academic achievement, perseverance, and leadership.
“These Scholars reflect the depth of talent and determination found in community colleges across the country,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Chief Executive Officer of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “They’ve demonstrated what they’re capable of, and we’re proud to help ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent them from continuing their education and realizing their full potential.”