Two Seminole State honors students named 2020 Jack Kent Cooke Scholars

Two honors students at Seminole State College of Florida were named winners of one of the nation’s most prestigious and lucrative scholarships.

Daliany Gerena Guerrido and Kathleen McBridewere awarded the Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship – worth up to $40,000 a year to complete a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university and up to $50,000 a year to pursue graduate studies. They were among an elite group of nationwide scholars selected this year to receive the award.

Daliany Gerena Guerrido 

 

Daliany Gerena Guerrido of Altamonte Springs, Fla. started at Seminole State in the fall of 2018 following a move to the United States after Hurricane Maria devastated her home island of Puerto Rico.

In her first year she was selected and accepted into the Grindle Honors Institute and Phi Theta Kappa Honors Association; joined the Honors Ambassadors program, earned the President’s List designation, and was awarded the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Scholarship.

"I am truly grateful for this opportunity. I can't wait to go back on campus and celebrate in person. This accomplishment has taught me about working as a community towards one goal. I could have never done this without the help and support of everyone in Honors and Seminole State overall. I feel so small, receiving such a big reward. Receiving Jack Kent Cooke has taught me that dreams can become reality," said Gerena Guerrido.

 Gerena Guerrido plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in business finance and sustainability. After completing graduate studies, she wants to use her knowledge, interpersonal, and leadership skills to further a company’s growth and innovation.

Kathleen McBride

 

Kathleen McBride started at Seminole State in fall 2017 and completed her A.S. in fall 2019. She is completing her Associates of Arts degree in spring 2020.

During her time at Seminole State she has been inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the Grindle Honors Institute; and earned the President’s List recognition for six consecutive semesters. She was also selected to attend the Global Citizenship Seminar in Salzburg, Austria in May 2019.

“Winning Jack Kent Cooke means that my life, education, and future will not be one note, it actually has become a melody,” said McBride.

 Additionally, McBride is an active member of the Student Government Association, Seminole State Volunteers, and serves as the administrative assistant of the Central Florida All-Star team. McBride’s career aspiration is to work in the fields of International and Global Studies.

All of the JKC winners show financial need and strong records of academic achievement as indicated by grades, leadership skill, awards, extraordinary service to others and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Since 2006, Seminole State has produced a total of 21 JKC scholarship recipients. 

JKC Scholarships fund the costs of attending college not covered by other financial aid, plus academic advising, stipends for internships, study abroad and opportunities to network with other JKC scholars and alumni.