Local Pride: Suffolk County Student Wins Prestigious National Scholarship

Joseph Gonzalez, a student at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) in West Babylon, NY, has received the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This scholarship provides up to $55,000 annually to cover tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. Gonzalez is one of 60 students nationwide to receive this scholarship and is the twelfth recipient from SCCC in its 65-year history.

The scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is competitive, with about 1,700 applicants from over 380 community colleges for the 2024 cycle. Selection criteria include academic performance, financial need, leadership, community service, and persistence. Gonzalez, who started with a GED, has achieved a 4.0 GPA at SCCC and held several leadership positions in the college community.

At SCCC, Gonzalez has led multiple student organizations, including roles as President of the Phi Theta Kappa Chapter and the Student Veterans of America, and Vice President of the History Club. His academic and leadership efforts have earned him recognition on the Dean’s List and the title of New York State’s 2024 New Century Transfer Scholar.

Gonzalez has also received the David R. Pierce Scholarship, which led to him speaking at the American Association of Community Colleges' Annual Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. His achievements have resulted in acceptance to both Columbia and Princeton Universities, where he plans to study history.

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