Kalamazoo Valley Student Jean Marie Mbalanda Awarded Prestigious National Scholarship

Jack Kent Cooke awardees pose for group photo

Kalamazoo Valley Community College student Jean Marie Mbalanda has been named one of just 90 recipients nationwide of the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Mbalanda was selected from more than 1,600 applicants representing community colleges across the country. The award, which provides up to $55,000 per year for up to three years, will support Mbalanda's transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree with significantly reduced financial burden. Mbalanda graduated in April 2025 with an associate of science in engineering. He plans to continue his education in engineering at a four-year university.

"I'm deeply grateful for this opportunity," said Mbalanda. "My experience at Kalamazoo Valley has been instrumental in shaping my academic journey and personal growth. Being selected for this scholarship is a great honor, and I'm truly thrilled to receive it."

The 2025 cohort is one of the largest in the foundation's 25-year history, reaffirming its mission to create debt-free pathways to higher education for high achieving students with financial need.

The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship not only provides generous financial support, but also offers personalized academic advising, access to internship and study-abroad opportunities and membership in a thriving network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars and alumni.

This year's recipients were chosen from a semifinalist pool of 467 students. Applicants were evaluated on academic performance, unmet financial need, persistence and leadership qualities.

"Jean Marie exemplifies the drive and determination we strive to support at Kalamazoo Valley," said Kalamazoo Valley President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D. "We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment and excited to see what the future holds."

For more information about the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit www.jkcf.org.