March 18, 2024

East Mississippi Community College sophomore Madelynne Goodson has been named a 2024 semifinalist for a Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Goodson is among 459 semifinalists chosen nationwide from a pool of more than 1,600 community college students who applied, according to a press release by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

Finalists for the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship will be announced in late April or May. EMCC is among three community colleges in Mississippi with students who were named 2024 semifinalists. It is believed that this is the first time an EMCC student has made it to the list.

“We are very proud of Madelynne,” EMCC President Dr. Scott Alsobrooks said. “These are very competitive scholarships, and it is an honor to be selected among the semifinalists.”

Goodson, of Starkville, attends school on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus, where she is president of the Student Ambassadors, treasurer of the Student Government Association and vice president of public relations for the Beta Iota Zeta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. She was recently named a 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar.

Goodson is majoring in Communications at EMCC. After graduation, she plans to transfer to Mississippi State University to seek a major in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations.

“The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a highly selective scholarship for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities,” the foundation press release states. “Each Cooke Scholar has access to generous financial support for two to three years, college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow scholars.”

Last year, 60 community college students were awarded Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships.

Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees – for the final two to three years necessary to achieve a bachelor’s degree. Awards vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships they may receive.

The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide 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 U.S.