Honors Student Awarded Prestigious Transfer Scholarship

May 12, 2022 - 03:38 PM

Mt. San Antonio College honors student Jun Shi has been chosen to receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, valued at up to $55,000 annually. Jun’s selection marks the 10th time that a Mt. SAC student has been selected a Cooke Scholar.

Jun is one of 100 community college students selected from across a nationwide pool of 1,200 applicants based on academic achievement, persistence, desire to help others, and leadership. Jun has a 3.88 GPA and is transferring to her “dream school”: UCLA.  "I'm so excited," a tearful Jun said after learning of the news.

Jun and her family immigrated to the United States from Shanxi, a province in North China, in spring 2018 with the hope of better educational and economic opportunities, and attaining the “American Dream.”   By fall of that year, Jun - a former high school dropout - enrolled at Mt. SAC as an American Language student to learn the language of her newly adopted country. In two years, she made the leap from the noncredit side of the college to the credit side, choosing to major in psychology.   Her goal following graduation from UCLA is to become a college counselor.

Jun, 21 and a resident of Baldwin Park, serves the campus community both as a member of the Arise and Honors programs, as well as an Activities Senator on the Activities Committee.  She also works in the English as a Second Language (ESL) Department as a student assistant. Earlier this year, Jun was selected to be a member of the Phi Theta Kappa All-California Academic Second Team.

Jun credits Mt. SAC for helping her adjust to American life, and equipping her with the skills to build confidence, step out of her shell and become the leader that she is today. 

Every year, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation selects high-achieving, low-income students from community colleges for scholarships that provide funding for tuition, room and board, fees and books. Cooke Scholars are eligible for graduate school funding after completing their bachelor’s degree. That award provides an additional $75,000 for graduate study.

Pictured above, Jun celebrates with her parents and sister Wei, who is also an Associated Students officer with a title of Academic Senator. Also pictured with Jun, from left, Dr. Aida Cuenza-Uvas, Director, Arise Program; Teresa Pham, Educational Advisor, Arise Program; and Dr. Audrey Yamagata-Noji, Vice President, Student Services.