October 2021
Happy birthday, Mr. Jack Kent Cooke
Cooke Scholar Alumni Buzz
Hello Cooke Scholars and Alumni!
We hope that this message finds you doing well. We want to take a moment to acknowledge that Mr. Cooke’s birthday was this past Monday, October 25th - Happy Birthday, Uncle Jack! Here’s an update on what’s going on in our alumni community and the great things some of your fellow Cooke Scholar Alumni are doing. Alums, we’d love to know what you’re up to, so please send us your updates at alumni@jkcf.org.
Community Buzz
Alumni Engagement Council, 2021 - 22
Join us in welcoming our returning and new members to the Alumni Engagement Council (AEC)! These sixteen AEC members represent the diverse backgrounds, strengths, scholarship programs, professional experiences, and geographic distribution that empower our Cooke Scholar and Alumni community. Throughout the academic year, the council will support the Cooke Scholar and Alumni community through facilitating virtual panel discussions, capturing and celebrating stories from our alumni community, expanding mentoring opportunities, and strengthening our network through Cooke Connect. Please join us in saying hello to our council members: Abbeygale Anderson, Alessandro Bailetti, Aman Waheed, Berenice Sylverain, Carrie Moore, Chris Chen, Ernest Dimbo, Jacobi Alvarez, Jennifer Lyu, Jonathan Finnerty, Kevin Davenport, Luis Veloz, Rex Ledesma, Sondos Alnamos, Stephani Calderon, and Yanelle Cruz. To learn more about the Alumni Engagement Council, click here.
New Blog - Catchin' Up with a Cookie: Ernest Dimbo
Ernest is an aspiring physician with a passion for advocacy, public health and policy. His journey started at Essex County College before transferring to Boston University where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. In Ernest’s quest to better understand the policies and forces influencing the health of people, he took a different step pursing a Master’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis on marginalized and excluded groups at the University of Cambridge. To learn more about Ernest’s academic journey while in the United Kingdom and suggestions for TV shows that he simply cannot get enough of, click here.
Connect with your Regional Chapter
Throughout this academic year, we have eight active regional chapters organizing virtual events and gatherings for Cooke Scholar Alumni. Alums attend these social gatherings sponsored by Chapter Leaders to develop relationships and strengthen our communities that motivate, support and inspire. Chapter Leaders are organizing activities in cities including the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York City - you can find the full list of Chapters and Chapter Leaders here. Email us at alumni@jkcf.org to connect with the Chapter Leaders in your region or if you would like to get in touch with other alums in your region not listed on the webpage.
Join the BIPOC Scholar Alumni/Staff Working Group
Do you identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Color (BIPOC)? If so, we have a special opportunity for you to join the Foundation’s BIPOC Scholar Alumni/Staff Working Group. This Working Group began its work in December 2020 to inform the Foundation about the Scholar and Alumni experiences with the Cooke Scholarship programs and at Scholars’ schools, colleges and universities. The group advises the Foundation on an array of racial equity matters, including selection and advising of scholars, alumni engagement and support, and how to improve the Scholar experience for future cohorts. To learn more about getting involve, click here.
October Career Pathways Virtual Chat: Write Your Way into a Career in Journalism & Media
Have you thought about exploring your love for writing and transforming that passion into a career? On Tuesday, October 26th, Alumni Engagement Manager and Cooke Scholar Alum Larry Thi hosted a panel discussion with fellow Alums Danna Lorch, Jerry Mathes, Monique Madan, and Shani Am. Moore. In this lively and informative conversation, you'll learn about the journalism and media industries’ landscapes and how one can become a successful journalist, freelance writer, author, or screenwriter.
November Career Pathways Virtual Chat: Financial Fitness - Practical Advice to Manage Your Money
Open conversations around money are extremely important, and financial matters can get particularly confusing and challenging when we get our first full-time job after college. Join us on Tuesday, November 16th as the Alumni Engagement Council hosts a conversation to share practical advice and tips for managing your money. We will be covering topics including budgeting as a new full-time working professional, thoughts on financial traps and liabilities to avoid as a young adult, and balancing priorities when it relates to money such as familial obligations, self-care, and pursuing a professional passion. A formal invitation will be sent soon, but you can register for the event right now here.
Do you have a topic you are passionate about and want to share with the community? Consider serving as a panelist in an upcoming Career Pathways Chat by completing this survey.
Alumni Buzz
2009 Young Scholar; 2014 College Scholar, Dartmouth College
Abbey recently founded and serves as Managing Partner at Cross Impact Capital, an investment firm with the mandate of expanding contemporary definitions of impact investing with a focus on underrepresented founders and/or category-redefining businesses. Prior to this current role, she held positions at both Stone Point Capital and Sandler O'Neill. In addition to her work at Cross Impact Capital, she serves as a Board Member for the Synergist Network, a national organization of women in investing dedicated to providing women the infrastructure, network, and business acumen critical for long-term success. Thankfully, Abbey has still found time to be a member of the Cooke Alumni Engagement Council, where she is passionate about expanding mentoring opportunities to Scholars and Alums interested in entrepreneurship and social impact.
Dr. Dean VanTrease (left), TCC's 1st dean and president of the TCC Foundation, and Rose (right).
Rose Lynch
2008 Undergraduate Transfer, University of Tulsa
Recently, Rose was named one of 50 Notable Alumni of Tulsa Junior College/Tulsa Community College (TCC)! Honored at the college’s annual gala, Rose was recognized for her social activism work for LGBTQ students and serving as the first female chair of the Oklahoma Student Advisory Board to the Oklahoma State Regents of Education. During the gala, TCC raised well over $150K for scholarships next year! As part of Rose’s work in her civic engagement, she has also been appointed chair her county's election board.
2016 College Scholar, Yale University
After graduating from Yale earlier this year, Bobby joined Tribe Capital - a venture capital firm focused on applying data science to investing. There, he is on the investment and data science teams and spends most of his time reviewing businesses and providing analytical support to founders. Prior to Tribe, Bobby worked at Onaroll, a seed-stage startup working to gamify shift work experiences. There, he built out the company's analytics capabilities and helped raise a Series Seed round from well-known VC firms. Bobby is happy to speak with any Cooke Scholars and Alums interested or considering careers in venture capital.
2012 Graduate Arts Scholar, New York University
The first commercial recording of Nell’s music was just released by the multiple GRAMMY-nominated Skylark Vocal Ensemble. She is honored that her composition for choir is featured as the title track of their new album, "It’s a Long Way," which has recently hit #5 on the Billboard Classical charts! Some of Nell’s current and upcoming projects include the World Premiere production of her opera, "Turn and Burn," by Houston Grand Opera; co-directing a chamber music concert series, "Lungs of the City: Olmsted's Parks in Music," which celebrates city parks around the country; and the publication of two songs in new works anthologies. More information on all projects is available at www.nellshawcohen.com.
2015 Undergraduate Transfer, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; 2018 Graduate International Award Scholar, Oxford University
This year, Nuno relocated to Seattle where he started a new job as a Labor Standards Investigator for the Seattle Office of Labor Standards. As a Labor Standards Investigator, he works with an investigation team to enforce Seattle's labor ordinances and the labor laws of the State of Washington. Nuno mentioned that it's an exciting feeling to know that he helps workers to recover the wages that are rightfully theirs - money they can use to care for their family. Prior, he served as a Worker Rights Coordinator at Casa Latina - an organization advancing the power and well-being of Latino immigrants through employment, education, and community organizing. Although it's been a big change coming over from the East Coast, Nuno looks forward to the start of his career in worker rights and to a new life in Seattle!
Throwback Photo of the Month
Scholars figuring out the Cooke Conundrum at Scholars Weekend 2005