Lansdowne, VA (May 9, 2025) – Odudu Ekpenyong, a student at UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ, is one of 90 high-achieving community college students selected to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive national scholarship aims for Cooke Scholars to complete their undergraduate educations with as little debt as possible. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide Odudu Ekpenyong with as much as $55,000 a year to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Ekpenyong, of Springfield, NJ, will graduate from UCNJ this spring with a computer science degree. He serves as Vice President of Public Relations for the Iota Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Vice President of the Entrepreneurs Club, is a member of the Cybersecurity Club, an academic tutor, and is an Union Honors scholar. Notably, Ekpenyong was selected as a 2024 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and was part of the All-NJ State Academic Team in recognition of his scholarly achievements. After earning his associate degree, he plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in aviation science with a concentration in professional piloting, aiming to become an airline captain and mentor underrepresented pilots. His dream transfer institutions include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Purdue University, and Tuskegee University.
The 2025 cohort marks one of the largest in the Foundation’s 25-year history, reinforcing its continued commitment to creating debt-free pathways to higher education for high-achieving students with financial need.
“This year’s cohort reflects the remarkable talent and determination thriving in community colleges nationwide,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Executive Director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “As we mark 25 years of impact, we remain committed to amplifying the successes of these students and opening doors to the opportunities they deserve.”
While nearly 80% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16% reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which makes this goal more attainable for selected students, provides last-dollar funding of up to $55,000 per year for up to three years and eases the financial burden of completing a four-year degree. Beyond funding, Scholars receive personalized advising to guide their academic and professional journeys. Scholars also gain access to a nationwide network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars and Alumni, along with opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school support – ensuring they have every tool needed to thrive beyond community college.
“We are proud of Odudu. Being named Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholar will allow him to transfer to and graduate from a university of his choice – debt free. Our previous Cooke Scholars have successfully transferred to Columbia, Dartmouth, Michigan, and UPenn. UCNJ has the top Honors Program in New Jersey and our students benefit from small class sizes, expert but compassionate faculty, along with a price that can’t be beat. Our College is the destination of choice for discerning students who want a great education, an engaging college experience, and an affordable price. I look forward to seeing what great things he will do with this transformative scholarship opportunity,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.
This year’s selection process drew more than 1,600 applications from community colleges across the nation. The 90 new Scholars were selected from a semifinalist pool of 467 students. Applicants were evaluated based on their academic achievement, unmet financial need, persistence, and leadership qualities.
A complete list of the 2025 Cooke Transfer Scholar finalists and their respective community colleges is available here. To learn more about the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit the website here.
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About The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded almost $304 million in scholarships to more than 3,400 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $136 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org
Media Contact: Julia Florence, media@jkcf.org
About UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
UCNJ is a public comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater Union County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College offers a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to the Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research Lab. Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 10 community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.
