December 2024
Cooke Scholars and Alums at the Careers in Finance as part of Cooke Connections: NYC in October 2024.
Compass Feature: Adhitya Jayasinghe
2015 College Scholar, Lehigh University
Adhitya became a Cooke Scholar in 2015, and studied Materials Engineering and Economics as a College Scholar at Lehigh University. After graduating he went on to work at Charles River Associates and Tesla, and now is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Antler while launching his new sustainability startup. In the below video, Adhitya shares how he strategically used internships to explore his career interests.
You can connect with Adhitya on LinkedIn here.
Compass Feature: Larry Thi
Check out our latest Cooke Alum Interview featuring Larry Thi, a 2011 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, a 2017 Graduate Scholar from the University of Pennsylvania.
In the below conversation, Larry shares his academic and career trajectory, including his experience at 12PLUS, the Cooke Foundation, and the Lenfest Scholars Foundation, where he currently serves as the Director of Operations. He also speaks passionately about his personal goal pursuit throughout Southeast Asia in 2022.
You can connect with Larry on LinkedIn here.
In Memoriam
It is with deep sadness that we share about the passing of two members of our Cooke community. We share our deepest condolences with the families and loved ones of the Scholars who have recently passed. Their memories will remain a cherished part of our community.
Dien Nguyen, a 2021 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar and 2024 Graduate Scholar, passed away in October in Stanford, CA. Dien was pursuing his Ph.D in Chemical Engineering at Stanford University.
Nichelle Green, a 2005 Young Scholar and 2010 College Scholar, was killed in a tragic accident on October 30th in San Diego, CA. Here is a link to her obituary.
Scholars and Alums, please know that you have access to the Student Assistance Program (SAP) should you need it: The SAP is available as a free and confidential resource for all Cooke Scholars and eligible family members. Through SAP you can access mental health services, financial and legal consultations, and get help developing personalized wellness programs. To access these and other resources, call 1-800-EAP-CALL or visit www.nexgeneap.com and use company ID 8774.
Dallas Elleman
2016 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2021 Graduate Scholar, University of Tulsa
Dallas was just selected as an Idea Accelerator Builder through Builders + Backers, a venture investment firm that equips and funds entrepreneurs building the most promising ideas. Its Idea Accelerator program is a rapid-paced, 90-day, virtual program designed to help early stage founders test and refine their business ideas. Participants learn to build things quickly and inexpensively by leveraging rapid experiments, no-code/low-code tools, and a non-dilutive $5K Pebble Fund grant.
Dallas shared, “I’m most excited about the network of awesome people that I’m connecting with and learning from as my team explores developing a tool to help college students manage their time.”
You can connect with Dallas on LinkedIn here.
Nandjui Richard Koutouan
2013 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2018 Graduate Scholar, University of Rochester
Nandjui Richard Koutouan, MBA, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who, a publication that chronicles the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment.
He is being recognized for his expertise in financial strategy and forecasting, including his current work as a rhythm of business lead at Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) in Redmond.
Richard shared, “I am honored to be included in this year's publication of Marquis Who's Who. This recognition comes at a pivotal time, as I have faced numerous personal and professional challenges. However, I firmly believe that success is not just about achievements, but about the journey and growth along the way. I am committed to continuous learning and self-improvement, striving to reach my full potential despite the obstacles".”
You can read the full press release here. You can connect with Richard on LinkedIn here.
Gustavo Diaz Galeas
2017 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, University of Central Florida
At the end of November, Gustavo stepped into a new role at AVT Simulation. Applied Visual Technology, dba AVT Simulation, is a Small Disadvantaged Orlando based, end-to-end systems integration and full-service modeling & simulation small business. AVT provides professional engineering services and training solutions to the simulation and training markets.
Gustavo shared, “In my new role as a Software Engineer at a defense company, I contribute to the design, development, and maintenance of simulation training products primarily for the U.S. Army. By employing industry best practices, I ensure the delivery of robust and reliable software solutions tailored to the unique needs of our clients. This position allows me to leverage my technical expertise to support mission-critical training objectives.”
You can connect with Gustavo on LinkedIn here.
We’re Thankful for the Internship Opportunities Shared by Our Community So Far!
We are so thankful for the Cooke Alums who have already stepped up this fall to share more than 55 (and counting!) internship opportunities for our Scholars as part of our Think Big About Internships campaign. You are our best ambassadors and advocates, and your support is making career-advancing experiences available to our Scholars when they need it the most!
For those you who haven’t had the chance to get involved yet, we invite you to join us now in the effort to make Mr. Cooke’s dream of a vibrant community of Alums and Scholars working together a reality. Cooke Alums are just the right people to connect talented, hard-working Scholars with these life-changing opportunities. You not only know what it's like to be a Cooke Scholar, you also know how amazing they are.
Working together, Cooke Scholars and Alums can create significant impact across industries, and even the world!
Here’s how you can get involved:
Hire a Cooke Scholar for a summer 2025 internship.
Connect Scholars with hiring managers in your network.
Spread the word about the amazing Cooke Scholar talent pool.
Earlier last month, we hosted a virtual Alumni Kickoff Event for the campaign where we will talked about the details of how Alums can get involved.
The Latest Alumni Blog Features
Catchin’ Up With a Cookie: Tala Alahmar
Our Catchin’ Up with a Cookie blog features Cooke Alum Tala Alahmar, a 2021 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar and 2023 Graduate Scholar at Georgetown University. In this blog, she shares about her experience attending Scholars Weekend for the first time, transitioning to graduate school, and attending the Michigan vs. OSU football game in 2021. Read more about Tala here.
Catchin’ Up With a Regional Chapter Leader: Ravanna Cantrall
In this blog, we catch up with Cooke Alum Ravanna (Rae) Cantrall, a 2016 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar from Columbia University. You can learn more about Rae’s academic and career journey in the article, as well as how Rae currently serves as the Regional Chapter for Los Angeles. Read more about Ravanna here.
Registration for the Cooke Alum Mentoring Program (CAMP) is Now Open
This program allows Cooke Alumni and Cooke Scholars (primarily undergraduate juniors) to build professional relationships through supportive conversations and interactions. The program will pair Alumni mentors with current Scholars with similar academic or professional interests. Mentors will meet with their mentees two times during the spring (virtually or in person) to share their knowledge of the field and address strengths and areas of growth related to their mentee's professional development.
An Alum mentor can offer unique perspectives, widen networks, increase self-confidence, and provide invaluable support to help the mentee meet their goals.
The CAMP mentor registration form can be accessed here.
Grad School Application Office Hours: Tips & Guidance from Cooke Alums
Are you in the process of applying for graduate school? Are you planning to submit an application for the Foundation’s Graduate Scholarship?
Register for our next Grad School Application Office Hours, a unique opportunity for Scholars to receive personalized advice and insights directly from Alums who have successfully navigated the grad school application process, and received the Graduate Scholarship. Cooke Alums will offer guidance on everything from selecting programs and preparing application materials to interview strategies and tips for a standout application. Whether you’re just beginning your applications or fine-tuning your materials, this is your chance to ask questions and gain valuable, real-world advice from those who’ve been in your shoes!
The following Cooke Alums will be at the session on Friday, December 6th from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET:
Josue Luna, 2018 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, 2024 Graduate Scholar
A current graduate student in mechanical engineering at the University of Southern California.
Sarah Schwab, 2018 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, 2023 Graduate Scholar
Sarah is a first-year medical student at UC San Diego School of Medicine.
Alborz Jelvani, Ph.D., 2014 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, 2017 Graduate Scholar
Alborz graduated in 2017 from UC San Diego with a Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. Alborz then enrolled at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering to pursue a PhD, and graduated in 2023.
Yanelle Cruz Bonilla, 2017 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, 2020 Graduate Scholar
She has a BA in sociology from Tufts University, an MSc in Migration Studies, and an MPhil in Evidence-Based Social Integration and Policy Evaluation from the University of Oxford.
Cooke Graduate Scholarship Applications are due January 10
The Graduate Scholarship is awarded to outstanding Cooke Scholars and recent Cooke Alums to support them to complete graduate degrees at top institutions. Applications for the Graduate Scholarship are due January 10, 2025. Find details on the Graduate Scholarship webpage and info sheet and find example responses to application questions on the Grad Scholar Portal. If you have more questions or would like support on your application, email gradscholars@jkcf.org.
We want to hear from you!
Have you recently changed jobs? Did you have your research published this year? Is your family growing? We would love to hear your personal, professional, and academic updates! Feel free to submit your news below or email Alumni Engagement Manager Gabby Nicholas.
Cooke Scholars and Alums at Amazon as part of Cooke Connections: New York City.