Three City Colleges Students Named 2026 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars

Three students from City Colleges of Chicago have been selected as recipients of the prestigious 2026 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. This highly competitive award supports exceptional community college students as they pursue bachelor’s degrees at four-year institutions.

The 2026 cohort includes 60 community college students from across the country who were selected for their academic achievement, leadership, and perseverance. More than 1,300 students applied for the scholarship this year, with recipients chosen from a semifinalist pool of 485 students.

Three of the four Illinois recipients are City Colleges students:

Elizabeth Barajas — Malcolm X College

Sabrina Bernard — Harry S Truman College

Julia Kantor — Wilbur Wright College

The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship helps high-achieving students with financial need complete their bachelor’s degrees with significantly reduced financial burden. The scholarship provides last-dollar funding after institutional aid and can offer up to $55,000 per year to attend any accredited undergraduate institution. In addition to financial support, recipients receive personalized advising, access to internships and study abroad opportunities, graduate school support, and connections to a nationwide network of more than 3,900 Cooke Scholars and alumni.

Congratulations, Elizabeth, Sabrina, and Julia! This achievement reflects their talent, determination, and academic excellence.