Five of the 46 students selected as 2008 Jack Kent Cooke Scholars are Phi Theta Kappans from the New England Region, giving New England more Scholars than any other region.

Gerard F. Boucher accepted membership in the Alpha Zeta Theta chapter at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts this April and graduated in May. He was previously named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges and participated in the honors program at Quinsigamond, from which he also received the 2008 Human Services Department Award. He will be attending Clark University in Worcester this fall.

Aaron J. Dowden accepted membership in the Alpha Upsilon Alpha chapter at Manchester (CT) Community College in 2005. He previously served as Officer-at-Large and webmaster for his chapter and is currently webmaster for the New England Region. A double-major in Physics and English, Aaron worked as a math tutor, is the outgoing treasurer for the MCC Student Senate and a student representative on the College Senate. He will be attending the University of Rochester this fall.

Grady Fox, 2007 – 2008 president of the Beta Lambda Rho chapter at York County Community College in Wells, Maine, was a member of the All-Maine Community College Academic First Team. A non-traditional student who majors in Digital Media, he was named YCCC’s Student of the Year and served as editor of YCCC’s student newspaper. Originally from Ohio, Fox is the first Jack Kent Cooke recipient from the Maine Community College System. He will attend Emerson College in Boston in fall 2009.

J. Ashley Odell, the 2007 – 2008 New England Region President, is also a member of the Alpha Upsilon Alpha chapter at Manchester (CT) Community College. In addition to receiving the Jack Kent Cooke, she is a 2008 Guistwhite Scholar, All-USA Community College Academic First Team Member, and New Century Scholar, as well as Student Trustee for the Connecticut Community Colleges. She will major in Critical Social Thought at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts this fall.

Sarah Vazquez is a member of the Alpha Xi Omega chapter at Holyoke Community College. A Liberal Arts major, she was the student speaker at Holyoke’s commencement ceremony in May and was an active member of the Human Services Club and volunteer for children with developmental disabilities. Vazquez will also be attending Mount Holyoke College this fall, where she will be majoring in Philosophy through the Frances Perkins Scholars Program for non-traditional students.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awards scholarships valued at $30,000 (USD) per year for three years and receives approximately 1,000 nominations annually, making it the largest and most competitive transfer scholarship in the United States. Each award, which is used in addition to financial aid, can be used to cover tuition, living expenses, required fees, and books for the final two to three years of the baccalaureate degree.