June 2023
Cooke Scholars and Alums at Scholars Weekend 2022
Compass Feature: Sondos Alnamos
2017 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Georgia Tech
Sondos became a Cooke Scholar in 2017, and studied Biomedical Engineering as a Transfer Scholar at Georgia Tech. As a Research & Development Engineer at Proctor & Gamble, Sondos currently combines her love of developing products with her interest in creating new inclusive designs.
In the below video, Sondos shares what factors were important to her during her job search, and how she prioritized her values. You can check out more of Sondos’ videos here.
Dustin Nowaskie
2004 Young Scholar, 2009 College Scholar, 2014 Graduate Scholar, Indiana University - Bloomington
Dr. Dustin Nowaskie and their peers have published three research articles in the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health and the Journal of Urology.
They shared the following message on the importance of their research, “Despite LGBTQ+ communities continuing to experience substantial social, political, and healthcare marginalizations, LGBTQ+ research is disproportionately underrepresented in academia, institutions, and industries. To understand the intersections of gender identity, sexual orientation, social classifications, and healthcare disparities, I’m dedicated to academic and community LGBTQ+ research.”
You can see their recent publications as well as previous work here.
Silvia Huerta Lopez
2014 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, 2018 Graduate Scholar, Harvard University
Silvia Huerta Lopez, a 2014 UT Scholar from the University of Pennsylvania, is a 2023 recipient of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans from Penn. The fellowship provides graduate school funding for immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States.
A current Graduate Scholar at Harvard University, Silvia investigates the neurobiology of sensory perception. While at Harvard, she has co-founded Quetzales de Salud, a nonprofit that aims to improve access to primary medical care for undocumented immigrants.
Congratulations on your fellowship, Silvia!
You can read the press release here.
Giselle Hobbs
2012 Young Scholar, 2015 College Scholar, and 2018 Graduate Scholar, Cornell University
Giselle was recently awarded a 2023–24 Fulbright Fellowship. She will spend the next academic year studying and completing an artistic residency with the endorsement of Alexia Fabre, the Director of the École des Beaux-Arts.
You can read the press release here.
Christopher LeFlore
2007 Young Scholar, 2012 College Scholar, 2018 Graduate Scholar,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
In May, Christopher was interviewed by Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) on his experience as a Young Scholar at the Northwestern summer program.
He shares about his academic and career experiences, and highlights the folks in his life who opened doors for him.
You can read the full interview here.
The Latest from the CookeAlumni.org Blog
Upcoming Event: Service Year Opportunities
Date: Wednesday, June 14th from 7PM-8PM ET
Are you interested in working in the non-profit sector? Or are you unsure of what to do after you graduate? Are you interested in opportunities where you can develop real-world skills through hands-on service?
Join us for a career panel focused on service year opportunities, and learn how you can maximize the time after you graduate to explore service opportunities. Hear from Cooke Alums Mary Ellen Dingley, David Liendo, AnhMinh Nguyen, and Larry Thi on their service year experiences.
Register here.
Gratitude for Cooke Alums
Now that the academic year is wrapping up, we wanted to take a minute to give a HUGE thank you to all of the wonderful Alums in our community.
From our Cooke Outreach Representative Program members, our regional chapter leaders, our AEC and our BIPOC working group members, and all our Alums who have connected with others in the community through interviews, conversation, or meet ups, we thank you!
You make this community of Cooke Alums amazing, and we’re so grateful you’re here.
Lastly, if you would like to submit a shoutout for another Cooke Alum or your cohort in a future Buzz, please email alumni@jkcf.org to be featured in our new “Cohort Notes” section.
Calling Alums to Join the 2023-2024 Alumni Engagement Council
Are you looking to become more involved in the Cooke Alum community? Do you want to participate in quarterly meetings to brainstorm ways to further engage the Cooke community? Join the Alumni Engagement Council (AEC) for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Join a group of 20 fellow Alums to provide feedback on Alum engagement, help program and plan activities, participate in Cooke events, and serve as a liaison between the Foundation and the community.
Submit your application to join the 2023-2024 AEC here.
Share an update with us!
Alums, do you want to be featured in an upcoming Alumni Buzz? Do you have an academic, professional, or personal update to share? We would love to hear it!
Throwback Photo: 2012 Scholars Weekend