Ferdinando Castro Gonzalez is headed to Columbia University in New York, with plans to graduate with a degree in sustainability.
Contact: Debra Dennis;
ddennis@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — May 27, 2021
(DALLAS) — A Dallas College student has been awarded a prestigious transfer scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation that gives him $40,000 annually for up to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Ferdinando Castro Gonzalez is graduating next month from Dallas College Richland Campus with an associate degree in management and will attend Columbia University in New York. Gonzalez is among the 72 high-achieving community college students selected as recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship.
The scholarship, Gonzalez said, caps off his dream of attending a top-tier Ivy League school.
“This honor means more than I can describe in a few words,” said Gonzalez, an international student from Venezuela who speaks English, Spanish, French and Italian. “Receiving this recognition showed me that being consistent and [a] hard worker does make dreams come true. I knew that I could only attend [Columbia] if I had a big scholarship. My dream of entering this institution motivated me to apply.”
In addition to tuition and other expenses, the scholarship provides an academic advisor.
Cooke scholars are selected based on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service and leadership. In addition to financial support, Cooke Transfer Scholars also receive advising from the Cooke Foundation that will help them transition to a four-year college and prepare for their careers.
“We know how much exponentially harder this past year has been on students. It’s an honor to award this group of individuals as they have achieved so much both in the classroom and in their daily lives,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “We are proud to welcome this new class of Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars to our community and are excited to support them as they transition to four-year institutions.”
Gonzalez’s goal is graduate from Columbia with a degree in sustainability. He became interested in the subject while at Dallas College, where he is an exemplary student with a 4.0 grade point average. He is a member of several organizations including Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Student Green Team, Philosophy Club, Male Achievement Program and the Yoga and Meditation Club.
Also, while at Richland, he helped organize events to educate others about hunger, gender equity and the environment.
“I have noticed that people sometimes identify themselves as isolated individuals, but we are very much akin to one another,” he said. “Organizing events allows me to unite and educate different people about important subjects.”
Gonzalez credits his family of supporters at Richland Campus for inspiring him to do his best.
“I consider myself lucky and fortunate to be a member of this community,” he said. “The list of those who supported me is too big to name. Anytime anyone goes out of your way to support me (or any student) is a considerate amount of work they add to their day. The emotional and physical ramifications must be huge, which makes their acts more meaningful to me.”
Gonzalez is also the recipient of a 2021 Phi Theta Kappa Guistwhite Scholars scholarship. Recipients receive a $5,000 scholarship for baccalaureate studies.
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