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A Northeast State Community College student has been named a national semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship for 2024.

 

Leo Phillips is among 459 semifinalists chosen from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants for the scholarship. He is one of only three students from Tennessee selected as a semifinalist.

 

“I am tremendously grateful to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to be selected for consideration for this scholarship,” said Phillips. “Coming to Northeast State I found a lot of resources and attitudes from the faculty that helped me make that transition to be successful.”

 

Phillips is a Northeast State Honors student and member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society for community college students. He is also a member of the TRiO Students Support Services class of 2024. He has applied to several four-year institutions including Ivy League universities.

 

“I felt like there was no better place to start my journey than Northeast State,” said Phillips, a University Parallel major in Business Administration and Philosophy. “I feel like this scholarship would enable me to pay forward the help I’ve received to other students who overcome challenges early in life.”

 

The Undergraduate Transfer scholarship award can provide a recipient as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution in the United States. The scholarship aims to help community college students who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, leadership, and service transfer to top four-year institutions and avoid student debt.

 

Scholarship applications were submitted by more than 194 community colleges in 37 states across the country. The scholarship application requires two reference letters from faculty members. The finalists for the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship will be announced in May.

 

Phillips noted how the symbiotic relationship between economics and philosophy required critical thought and learning new perspectives. Almost everything discussed in the abstract philosophical realm had real implications to people and systems in the economic world, he said.

 

A strong sense of intellectual curiosity drives Phillips. He candidly talks about a tumultuous childhood of poverty and family upheaval. He was homeschooled during his teenage years. He took much of his learning upon himself before enrolling at Northeast State. His experiences from childhood have motivated him to pursue a law degree.

 

“I decided I wanted to pursue that so I could be the change I wanted to see in the world,” he said. “I want to pursue the best opportunities available to meet different people and get a broader perspective on the world.”

 

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship offers unparalleled support to community college students. In addition to the financial support, selected Cooke Transfer Scholars will receive educational advising from the Foundation’s Deans of Scholar Support to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for their future careers.

 

The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship represents a unique opportunity, providing crucial support for transfer students to overcome barriers and successfully attain their bachelor’s degrees.

 

“In light of the challenges that hinder many community college students from achieving their goal of earning a bachelor’s degree, our Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship makes the journey more achievable and helps to eliminate the threat of student debt,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “The exceptional pool of talent among this year’s chosen semifinalists from community colleges showcases the vast potential within these institutions and we look forward to learning more about these students during the final stage of our application review.”

 

Scholarship recipients will also have access to internship opportunities, study abroad experiences, graduate school funding, and the invaluable connection to a network of more than 3,100 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni.

 

Phillips will graduate with honors and his associate degree this summer. He will walk in the spring graduation ceremony on May 7. He offers straightforward advice to others about navigating college and life in general.

 

“Be your own advocate for education and seek to be challenged,” Phillips said. “When you are challenged, that is when you are going to see the most growth.”

 

NW0326 JKC scholarship semifinalist 

Contributed Photo

Northeast State Community College student Leo Phillips has been named a national semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship for 2024.