OSU student awarded Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Transfer Scholarship
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The scholarship, which is valued at up to $30,000 a year for up to three years, was awarded to allow him to transfer to a university to complete his undergraduate degree.
Howerton, a mechanical engineering major, is the son of Angela K. Howerton of Grove and is a 2008 graduate of Grove High School. He transferred to OSU from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami.
This year’s Jack Kent Cooke Scholars come from two-year institutions in 18 states, and 18 scholars were born in foreign nations. All 40 Scholars have distinguished themselves both in and out of the classroom, performing valuable community and public service, while in many cases having to also hold down full-time jobs.
“Ever since I can remember, I have always made school a top priority,” said Howerton. “I have a strong will to succeed and want to be the best student I can be.”
Howerton, who was named the Top Graduate of NEO A&M College and who had a perfect 4.0 GPA, also was named to the All-Oklahoma Academic Team and as a national finalist for the Coca-Cola All-State Academic Team.
“Since it was established, the foundation has recognized the importance of community colleges and their value to American society,” said Dr. Lawrence Kutner, the foundation’s executive director. “What we’ve also realized is that many top-notch students at these two-year colleges need financial help to get to the next level.”
Since the Undergraduate Transfer program was instituted in 2002, more than 365 students have benefited from scholarships from the foundation. That represents more than $13 million in scholarship dollars that have been distributed through this foundation program alone.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to helping young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education. The foundation also provides challenging opportunities to high achievers from lower-income families through its Young Scholars Program, generous scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study, and grants to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.