Jack Kent Cooke

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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.”

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Skyler Umney, who recently graduated, is one of 90 students nationwide to receive the transfer scholarship.

Skyler Umney, a student at Schoolcraft College, is one of 90 high-achieving community college students selected to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive 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 Umney with as much as $55,000 a year to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Umney recently graduated with an Associate in Science and was accepted at the University of Michigan, where he plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology.  Skylar is a first-generation student and chose Schoolcraft College to begin his studies. While at Schoolcraft, Umney was involved with several organizations, including the Schoolcraft Scholars Honors Program and the LSA Transfer Bridges program.

He is the first Schoolcraft College student to receive the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship since 2017.

“This is an incredible award and we’re so proud of Skyler for his accomplishments,” said Dr. Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Chief Student Services Officer and Faculty Representative for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation at Schoolcraft College. “He has worked incredibly hard and we’re honored the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has recognized him for all his achievements.”

student surprised expression
Skyler Umney is taken aback after finding out he received the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship during a surprise announcement May 8 inside the Vistatech Center at Schoolcraft College.

While nearly 80% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16% reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which makes this goal more attainable for selected students, provides last-dollar funding of up to $55,000 per year for up to three years and eases 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 – ensuring they have every tool needed to thrive beyond community college.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.”

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.

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The free event will be held in a virtual format

After 26 student presentations and over 200 attendees in the past two years, STEAMzSchoolcraft, a student-led conference that bridges the arts, humanities, and sciences, returns for its third year on Friday, March 25. 

This year’s theme is “Transforming Lives Through Storytelling.” Specifically, the theme examines how to transform the world we live in through data-driven storytelling. Students will be encouraged and mentored by Schoolcraft College faculty and staff to explore this idea. The STEAMz presentations focus on ideas, findings, and experiences highlighting academic and professional successes. Presenters address specific values, skills, and experiences needed to set and achieve thoughtful and actionable goals as they transition into university life or the workforce.

Maria Cielo Robles
Cielo Robles, a Schoolcraft Scholars Honors Program alumni and medical student at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, will deliver this year’s keynote presentation.

Cielo Robles, a Schoolcraft Scholars Honors Program alumni and medical student at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, will deliver this year’s keynote presentation. Prior to MSU, she conducted cardiovascular health disparities research at the University of Michigan and pediatric neurosurgery clinical research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, New York). 

Robles has led multiple NIH*-funded substudies, published multiple co-authored papers, including first-author publications, and presented her work at numerous national conferences. She received an Associate of Science degree from Schoolcraft College in 2014. She was the recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and transferred to Cornell University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology, Health and Society in 2016. 

The event also will feature in-depth and lightning talk presentations facilitated by Schoolcraft College students. Selected students received a scholarship provided by a generous grant through the Schoolcraft College Foundation and will be mentored by faculty and staff to strengthen their presentation, research, and story. To align with this year’s theme, students are encouraged to combine a meaningful story with research findings to drive curiosity and inspiration with their audience. During the event, students will be evaluated and recognized for creatively addressing this year’s theme.

STEAMzSchoolcraft Virtual Summit will take place on Friday, March 25, at 1 p.m. via Blackboard Collaborate. A link to attend can be found on the STEAMz website closer to the conference date. The event is free to attend – registration is not required. 

If you have questions, please contact Sharon Christian, Director of Learning Support Services and STEAMzSchoolcraft Committee Chair, at [email protected]. 

*NIH stands for National Institute of Health.