Zefferino Carriero of Yonkers became the 13th student in SUNY Westchester Community College history to win the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which provides winning students with up to $55,000 a year to complete their bachelor”™s degree.
Zefferino came to SUNY WCC in large part due to its lowest-in-the-county tuition, but also for its Honors College, which provides guaranteed tuition coverage and substantial textbook stipends from the WCC Foundation. Honors College scholars have access to specialized co-curricular programming, including study abroad and internship opportunities.
“I”™m beyond grateful for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation”™s generosity,” said Zefferino. “The support I receive from the Foundation will enable me to advance in my studies in ways that I never would have thought possible. Now I can pursue my dream of earning my Ph.D. and becoming a professor. SUNY WCC has been an essential factor in providing me with a solid educational foundation upon which this scholarship will help me build.”
“The entire SUNY Westchester Community College community is very proud of Zefferino”™s accomplishments,” said WCC President Dr. Belinda Miles.
In addition to financial support, new Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year college and preparing for their careers. Scholars will additionally receive opportunities for internships, study abroad and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of Cooke Scholars and Alumni.
Today, nearly half of the students pursuing college choose to attend two-year institutions. Research commissioned by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation found that community college students who transfer to selective institutions have equal to or higher graduation rates as students who enrolled directly from high school or transferred from four-year institutions.
SUNY Westchester Community College provides over 20,000 full-time and part-time students with an education taught by award-winning faculty at one of the lowest tuition rates in New York state. The college reflects the rich diversity of its region and was the first SUNY campus to be designated a Hispanic Serving Institution.
