Two Montgomery College Students Earn Prestigious National Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

Danae “Samantha” Flores-Tene and Rodin Ruiz, students at Montgomery College, are two of just 90 high-achieving community college students nationwide selected to receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The award, which provides up to $55,000 per year in last-dollar funding after all institutional aid, supports their pursuit of bachelor’s degrees with minimal debt.

Beyond funding, scholars receive personalized advising to guide their academic and professional journeys. Scholars also gain access to a nationwide network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars and alumni, along with opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school support to ensure they have every tool needed to thrive beyond community college.

Flores-Tene, a Macklin Business Institute Scholar and vice president of the Rockville chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, has also contributed to the MC Advocate student newspaper and recently placed second in the Raptor Tank Business Pitch Competition. She is graduating with her Associate of Arts in business Friday, May 23 as the College celebrates the Class of 2025.  

Ruiz, the first humanities student at MC to receive this scholarship, immigrated from Honduras in 2019—a journey that shaped his passion for storytelling, literature, and theatre. He pursued honors literature courses through the Renaissance Scholars Program and maintained a perfect GPA across 55 credits, supported by the Carlos Rosario and New Futures Scholarships. A longtime theater artist displaced by political instability in Honduras, Ruiz remains active in the Latinx theater community, with an original play produced at the 2024 Capital Fringe Festival. He has presented his scholarship at the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council Conference, the Cherry Blossom Conference, and the Richard Macksey Symposium at Johns Hopkins. 

“We are incredibly proud of Samantha and Rodin—two extraordinary students whose academic excellence, leadership, and resilience are truly outstanding,” said Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, president of Montgomery College. “The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a life-changing opportunity that will support these students’ continued success as they pursue their bachelor’s degrees. Their achievements, along with those of the College’s eight other Jack Kent Cooke semifinalists this year, highlight the talent and determination of our MC students.”

Flores-Tene grew up in New York and moved to Ecuador, her parents’ home country, at age 12. After attending military school, her family returned to their Indigenous community, where she attended a smaller school and practiced English firsthand by working as a waitress and bartender at an internationally recognized restaurant.

She later returned to the United States on her own and began her studies at Montgomery College, saying she was drawn by its affordability and strong student support. Though her first semester felt lonely, she soon found a sense of community. In November 2023, she began working as a barista at the Macklin Business Institute (MBI) Café. In the spring, she applied and was accepted into the MBI program, transitioning to the café’s accounting team.

“Montgomery College has become, I like to say, my home,” Flores-Tene said. “I know that’s very cliché, but I’ve always spent more time here than I do at home. MC has offered me so many opportunities, and now it’s time for us to pave our way further into our future and see what lies ahead.”  

When Ruiz first arrived in the United States, he didn’t think it was guaranteed that he would be able to attend college. But he found opportunities at MC: “Montgomery College taught me that higher education in the US was possible, even as an immigrant building a new life,” Ruiz said. “The Honors Program challenged my ideas and helped me grow as a scholar.”

A literature major, Ruiz hopes to one day teach at the college level and pass on his passion for reading and storytelling to his students.

“What I hope to gain from my academic journey is the opportunity to see the world through different lenses, to better understand life, our existence, and the world around us,” he said. “College exposes you to new ideas, professors, and perspectives, and that’s powerful. For me, education is not just about knowledge; it’s about how it transforms you as a human being.”

This year’s selection process drew more than 1,600 applications from community colleges across the nation. The 90 new Scholars were selected from a semifinalist pool of 467 students. Applicants were evaluated based on their academic achievement, unmet financial need, persistence, and leadership qualities.

Future opportunities with financial support

While nearly 80% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16% reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which makes this goal more attainable for selected students, provides last-dollar funding of up to $55,000 per year for up to three years and eases the financial burden of completing a four-year degree.

Flores-Tene has been accepted to the University of Maryland, Georgetown University, Dickinson College, and the College of William and Mary. Regardless of where she transfers, she plans to major in economics. Earning the scholarship, she said, has lifted a huge weight off her shoulders.

“[A college decision] came down to one thing: where I could afford to go,” she said. “Now I’m not so worried about the financial aspect. I can freely choose where I feel most at home—and where I’ll find the best opportunities for the future.”

Similarly, Ruiz said he had long been concerned about how to afford continuing his education. “One of my biggest concerns when I started at Montgomery College was how I was going to pay for college,” he said. “When I applied for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, I didn’t expect anything—I just gave it a try. When I found out I was selected, I was shocked. It felt unreal. It meant I could continue my education without the burden of financial stress.”

So far, he has been accepted to Georgetown University and George Washington University.

Both students praised the effort, dedication and leadership of Dr. Lucy Laufe, collegewide honors director and chair, who has mentored 21 of the college’s 22 winners of this scholarship. MC’s Cooke Scholars have transferred to Georgia Tech, M.I.T, George Washington University, Morehouse College, Dickinson College, American University, Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College, Stevenson University, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Maryland, College Park. Four scholarship winners have transferred to Georgetown University.

“This year’s cohort reflects the remarkable talent and determination thriving in community colleges nationwide,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Executive Director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “As we mark 25 years of impact, we remain committed to amplifying the successes of these students and opening doors to the opportunities they deserve.”

A list of the 2025 Cooke Transfer Scholars, including their community colleges, can be found herenew window.