“We want to make a statement that now is the time to be investing in the next generation of leaders for our country and the world,” said Matthew J. Quinn, executive director of the Foundation. “We expect great things from these scholars as they go forward in life.”

Wai-Ying Chow, who earned a B.A. in psychology in 2000, intends to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology at Arizona State University, specializing in adolescence and community prevention.  She intends to learn more about children and adolescents who seem invulnerable or resilient despite risk or adversity stemming from family discord, socioeconomic status, or other factors.  Her goal is to identify “resiliency factors” so that she can develop a better prevention model for troubled youth.

Chow graduated from School Without Walls High School in Washington, D.C. and received a Stephen Joel Trachenterg Scholarship to attend GW.  The Trachtenberg scholarship, named for GW’s president by the University’s Board of Trustees, provides for four years of tuition, books and fees.  She has received numerous academic awards at GW, including a Summer Pre-Intramural Research Training Award and Technical Intramural Research Training Award from the National Institutes of Health.

“Strive. Survive. Thrive. These ideas are the major principles of resilience — my intended research focus,” said Chow.

Joel M. Dabu, a resident of Arlington, Va., is majoring in American studies and will pursue graduate work in urban planning. “America’s cities need intelligent and dynamic leadership to educate and inform the populace and help turn the tide against unplanned sprawl,” said Dabu about his fascination with architecture and urban planning. Also, Dabu is an accomplished cello player and has performed for the University’s Symphony Orchestra and String Quartet.

Arnab Mukherjee is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and plans to use his training as a psychology major to pursue a medical degree from New York University.  He has worked as a community volunteer, including at D.C. Reads in the Shaw neighborhood, where Mukherjee said he discovered the importance of being a “patient and compassionate role model” to motivate students to learn and also build self-confidence.

The late Jack Kent Cooke, who was unable to go to college in the midst of the Depression, set aside the bulk of his estate to create a foundation dedicated to education. The foundation is setting aside approximately $10 million over the course of the next six years to support this first class of 50 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholars.  

The 50 scholars were selected from a total of 675 applicants. To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must be a resident of, be attending a college or university in, or plan to attend a graduate school in the greater Washington region (Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia).  A group of 12 academic advisors from across the country assisted the foundation in the selection process.

“We looked for individuals of exceptional promise, strivers really,” said Quinn, “and many of these scholars are first-generation Americans, immigrants who have the opportunity to live and expand the American Dream.” 

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation began operations in August 2000 and is receiving more than $500 million in assets and expects to provide approximately $25 million to support individual scholarship and other educational initiatives on an annual basis. 

Jack Kent Cooke, who built a media empire and also owned the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Redskins, died in April 1997.