The JKC Foundation has selected Chattanooga State Community College student Gary Satin as one of 50 recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This scholarship will provide him with up to $40,000 per year over the next three years to complete his bachelor’s degree at a college of his choice.
Scholars will also receive opportunities for internships and study abroad and graduate school funding.
Satin is also a student in Chattanooga State’s Global Scholars Honors Program, a Chattanooga State Foundation First in the Family Scholar and a Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship recipient,
He will graduate this year with an associate of science degree in pre-health with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. Satin’s dream is to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
After realizing what this scholarship will mean to his future, Satin says he felt like a huge financial weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“This life-changing opportunity will allow me to put all my focus into my education so I can eventually serve others in ways that seemed unimaginable before,” Satin says.
“This accomplishment is a testament to not only Gary’s academic aptitude but also his character and desire to serve others,” notes Amanda Bennett, Global Scholars director. “Having had the privilege of observing these qualities over the past few years, I’m delighted that others have taken note of this remarkable young man.”
Satin is the first Chattanooga State student to receive this prestigious honor.
Nearly 1,500 students from 311 community colleges across the U.S. applied for the 2020 scholarship. Because of Satin’s interest in research, he has applied to Cornell, ETSU, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford, Swarthmore, Vanderbilt and Yale.
The JKC Foundation evaluated each submission based on students’ academic achievement, financial need, leadership and service to others.
“We know this is an uncertain time for many students and their families. But we remain committed to supporting high-achieving community college students to ensure they have the resources to reach their full academic potential,” says Seppy Basili, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation executive director.
Source: Chattanooga State