Ocean County College OceanViews Magazine 2026 Summer-Fall - Flipbook - Page 24
STUDENT SHOUTOUT
Q&A with
ELLIE DOWEK ’26
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Cooke Undergraduate
Transfer Scholarship is one of the most competitive and prestigious awards available to community college students. We
invited Ellie Dowek, president of OCC Student Government and
2026 scholarship semifinalist, to reflect on what this recognition
means to her.
Q: Tell us about the moment you found out you were selected
as a semifinalist. What did it mean to you?
One day in early March, I received an email from the Jack Kent
Cooke Foundation. Since I had applied for the scholarship in
January, I had almost forgotten about it, but seeing that name
in my inbox immediately brought me back. I braced for impact
and ripped the Band-Aid off, opening the email expecting disappointment. But to my surprise, the Foundation shared the exciting news that I had been selected as a semifinalist.
I was immediately elated and filled with immense gratitude.
It felt like I had lived a lifetime since the new year, and to be
recognized as an outstanding applicant by such a prestigious
foundation reminded me of how proud I should be of how far I
have come. I came to OCC with a GED and never even expected
to earn a single A in any class. Fast forward to where I am now,
and I have achieved far beyond what I ever thought possible.
So, when I saw the Jack Kent Cooke email, a buzz of excitement
passed through my body, immediately followed by gratitude for
everyone who assisted and guided me through the journey.
Q: What do you plan to study after graduating from OCC?
How did this nomination impact your academic choices?
I will be studying Political Science and History at Swarthmore
College as a Thomas B. McCabe Scholar. Becoming a Jack Kent
Cooke semifinalist boosted my applications and network, giving me greater access and stronger odds in highly competitive
and deserving applicant pools. I truly believe that recognition
helped me stand out, including in my selection for such an
exclusive merit scholarship from Swarthmore.
Q: How have your experiences at OCC prepared you to apply
for this scholarship?
Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Semifinalists
Without Ocean County College, I would never have found myself
on a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation press release as a semifinalist. Through the support and network I gained at OCC, I found
the confidence and courage to apply for such a prestigious
scholarship. The Student Success team and transfer advisors
were with me every step of the way, ensuring I could become
the best applicant version of myself possible. Additionally,
through OCC, I was able to meet distinguished faculty and staff
members with whom I built incredible bonds, and their letters
of recommendation no doubt strengthened my application.
A special thank you to Professor of History Stephen Downey
and [OCC President] Dr. Monaco for their wonderful letters and
steadfast encouragement.
Q: What advice would you give to other students looking for
an opportunity like this?
Five students from OCC were named semifinalists for the
Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship this year:
Laura Garzon Salinas, Sabrina Watts,
Ellie Dowek, Anne Nyangaga and Anthony Paris.
Visit our social media channels for more interviews with our semifinalists.
To future Ocean Jack Kent Cooke applicants, I say: do not wait
to begin. Take that first step in your application as soon as possible. Opportunities like this come only a few times in a lifetime.
Start early, reach out to your network, think carefully about your
essays, think about your letters of recommendation, and most
importantly, think about your journey. It is challenging to figure
out how to condense all of your amazing accomplishments and
difficult challenges into only a few essays of a couple hundred
words or less, so it is important to utilize the guidance of those
around you to help you draft, revise, and finalize your essays. Do
not be scared to do it. Take every opportunity that comes your
way, and good luck!
