August 2022
Hello Cooke Scholars and Alums!
Summer is in full swing, and the heat is on! Hopefully you are staying safe and cool, and still finding time and ability to enjoy the season. Scholars Weekend 2022 is just around the corner, and we’re all looking forward to welcoming the members of the newest cohorts of Cooke Scholars to our community!
Here’s an update on what’s going on at the Foundation and some of the wonderful things your fellow Scholars have done recently. Alums, please reach out and send us your updates so we can feature you and your work! Just send us an email at alumni@jkcf.org.
Community Buzz
New Blog - CORP Volunteers Discovering the Next Generation of Cooke Scholars
Through CORP, Cooke Scholars and Alumni share the Foundation’s scholarship opportunities with middle school, high school, and community college students. When Cooke Scholar Alum Reynier Montalvan first heard of CORP, he started contacting advisors at community colleges around Miami and setting up appointments to talk with students about his experience as an Undergraduate Transfer Scholar. Similarly, Grace Ahn started by planning a meeting for students at her former high school to encourage others to apply to the College Scholarship and even created awareness for the Young Scholars Program to middle schoolers. We want to thank Reynier and Grace, as well as all of our other CORP volunteers, for their important work in outreach. To learn more about their involvement with CORP, click here.
Regional Chapter Events in Chicago, Princeton, and Washington DC
This past month, the fun continued as Scholars and Alums gathered to celebrate the community in Chicago, Princeton, and Washington D.C. Pictured below, Cooke Scholars Jonathan Finnerty and Brian Kang welcomed new 2022 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar Thomas Emens to Princeton University. And in Washington D.C., nearly 20 Cooke Scholars and Alums gathered for a dinner filled with creating new connections and seeing familiar faces. Stay tuned for more in-person events coming soon!
Princeton, New Jersey
Washington, DC
Connect with an Alum
Our Cooke Scholar Alumni network is a vibrant community of more than 2,000 individuals engaged in diverse career and personal pursuits. One way you can Connect with an Alum is to complete this form and let us introduce you to an Alum sharing similar interests and career goals.
Compass Feature: Sagar Chapagain
2015 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Cornell University; 2019 Graduate Scholar, University of Nebraska
Sagar Chapagain became a Cooke Transfer Scholar in 2016 and studied Biological Sciences and Health Policy as an undergraduate at Cornell University. After graduating, he did his post-baccalaureate studies at Johns Hopkins University. Now, as a Graduate Scholar, Sagar is a Doctor of Medicine (MD) candidate at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Medicine.
Alumni Buzz
2006 Graduate Scholar, New York University
Several weeks ago, it was announced that Julius will be the director for Marvel’s Captain America 4! In addition to taking on the latest installment from this popular franchise, Julius is working with Sam Esmail and Peter Glanz to develop the drama series The American Throne. Julius is known for directing The Cloverfield Paradox and the 2019 Neon drama Luce, based on J.C. Lee’s play of the same name, which made its world premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Director.
2005 Young Scholar; 2010 College Scholar, Emory University; 2017 Graduate Scholar, University of Colorado
Jen recently moved to New York City to start her new job as Brand Strategy Manager at The Brand Guild - an integrated agency that builds strategies, creates experiences, and influences audiences for some of the nation's top purpose-driven consumer brands. Previously, Jen served as an Associate at the Techstars-Western Union FinTech accelerator in Denver, CO and was a PhD student studying consumer behavior and financial decision making at the University of Colorado’s Center for Consumer Financial Decision Making. Jen is passionate about financial literacy and moderated a conversation with fellows Alums on Financial Fitness: Practical Advice to Manage Your Money.
2018 College Scholar, University of Texas at Austin; 2022 Graduate Scholar, Brown University
AJ is featured in this year’s edition of the The Texas Scientist where he discusses his involvement in research, mentoring younger students, and his experience in the neuroscience program at UT-Austin. Recently, AJ has been awarded recognition for Graduate of Distinction in Research (Neuroscience and integrative biology), Graduate of Distinction in Entrepreneurship (Neuroscience and Inventorship) and selected as a National Name Exchange Scholar.
2011 Undergraduate Transfer, Arizona State University; 2014 Graduate Scholar, Arizona State University
Angie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) providing therapeutic counseling for adults, children, youth, and families with expertise in treating trauma, grief, and anxiety. Her holistic approach aims to help people find peace amid the chaos and pain that can sometimes arise in life in a way that incorporates body, mind, and heart. Angie started Finding Hope Institute because in her work as a therapist, and through personal experiences, she has come to see just how important it is to not only look at the behaviors and symptoms that are creating barriers to daily functioning and connection with others, but to look at the experiences we have lived through in life and in the stories from family history to gain insight into present struggles.
2018 Undergraduate Transfer, UC San Diego
Josue is one of 75 Americans selected to study and work in Germany as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program. Participants come from a wide variety of career fields and from all over the United States. While in Germany, Josue will attend a two-month intensive language course, study at a German university and complete an internship in the career field of mechanical engineering. Josue and other cohort members will live with host families in Germany, where they act as citizen ambassadors of the United States, promoting a positive image of the U.S. abroad and creating lifelong friendships and professional connections to keep German-American relations strong.
2006 Young Scholar; 2011 College Scholar, San Francisco Conservatory of Music; 2015 Graduate Scholar, University of Texas at Austin
Travis recently designed the AUX Instrument Support for sitting/standing positions while playing guitar or bass. Since developing his prototype last November, he has made various modifications and has sold to his product to customers in Austria, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Many guitar players, Travis included, have problems with back and shoulder pain because of long hours spent sitting down using the body as a clamp to hold the instrument. This support brings the guitar to the musician, rather than the musician having to go to the guitar. You can check out more on Travis’ website, and watch him playing with the support system in the YouTube video below.
Throwback Photo of the Month
Cooke Scholars at Scholars Weekend 2009