Student Wins Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship

HFC Honors Student Diana Jomaa, of Dearborn, is one of 85 students nationwide – and the only one at HFC – to win the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship in 2014.

Jomaa, a native of Lebanon,graduated with high honors on May 10 with her associate’s degree in Science. She attended HFC on a Pell Grant. She will continue her studies this fall at The University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor, where she plans to double-major in Biology and Psychology. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she aspires to attend medical school and pursue a career as an oncologist.

Jomaa’s desire to study oncology is because both of her grandfathers died of cancer when she was very young.

“I wanted to be able to do something, not just stand there and look at them. I want to be able to comfort my patients and do something to ease their pain,” she said.

The scholarship covers up to approximately $30,000 per year, including a significant amount of Jomaa’s educational expenses – tuition and other required educational fees – and will continue for the final two to three years required to earn an undergraduate degree.

Jomaa confessed she cried tears of joy when she learned that she won the scholarship.

“I was so happy and excited. We couldn’t take photos because I was crying,” she said, laughing.

“The recognition that Diana Jomaa has received by winning a (JKC) scholarship reflects her keen intelligence and impressive fortitude. She has demonstrated the strength of character and savvy necessary to navigate the complexities and challenges of the two cultures in which she was born and raised. She has maintained a resolute sense of independence as a young woman—insisting whenever it was necessary upon equal opportunity. Finally, she has persistently pursued and achieved academic excellence. Diana embodies marvelously what we mean by ‘honors student,’” said Dr. Michael Daher, HFC Honors Program Director. To date, Jomaa is the sixth HFCC Honors Student to win a JKC scholarship.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation established by the late Jack Kent Cooke to help exceptionally promising students reach their full potential through education. Launched in 2000, the Foundation focuses in particular on students with financial need. The Foundation’s scholarship and direct service programs support the education of approximately 650 remarkable students each year.

To learn more about the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, please visit http://www.jkcf.org/. For more about the HFC Honors Program, please visit https://www.hfcc.edu/programs/honors-program.