For the second year in a row – and marking the third time in four years – a Santa Monica College student has been awarded a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, the nation’s largest private scholarship for community college transfer students.
This year’s recipient, Siamak Khakshoor-Kohan, is one of 85 students chosen from 3,705 students from 737 community colleges.
The award follows last year’s JKCF scholarship given to SMC student Scott Pine, and comes three years after Stephen Olsen became the first student in SMC history to receive the award.
JKCF winners – chosen by a highly respected selection committee of 18 admissions professionals, mostly from selective four-year institutions – receive up to $30,000 a year for up to three years to complete their Bachelor’s degree at accredited four-year colleges or universities.
“The Jack Kent Cooke award will allow Siamak to realize his dream of becoming a caring physician for those in need,” said SMC President Dr. Chui L. Tsang. “His success is one that mirrors what America is about: hard work and opportunity.”
JKCF Scholarship winners are chosen for their “high academic ability and achievements, financial need, persistence, leadership, and a desire to help others,” according to the Foundation, which was started in 2000.
A pre-med student at SMC, Khakshoor-Kohan is one of four children raised by Jewish immigrants from Iran.
“As I see them working every day of the week to save for our future, my parents are still an inspiration to me,” Khakshoor-Kohan said. “They taught me the importance of leading an honorable life centered on higher education and service to society.” – Santa Monica Mirror
Siamak Khakshoor-Kohan Represents Success- Santa Monica #TurnUp
