Two Montgomery College students have received the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a prestigious national award supporting high-achieving community college students. Danae “Samantha” Flores-Tene and Rodin Ruiz are among 90 recipients selected from more than 1,600 applicants nationwide. The scholarship provides up to $55,000 annually to complete a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution.
Flores-Tene, a business major, graduated as a Macklin Business Institute Scholar and vice president of the Rockville chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She contributed to the student newspaper and recently earned second place in the Raptor Tank business pitch competition.
Ruiz, a literature major, immigrated from Honduras in 2019. He completed 55 credits with a perfect GPA, supported by the Carlos Rosario and New Futures Scholarships. Ruiz pursued honors coursework through the Renaissance Scholars Program and had an original play produced at the 2024 Capital Fringe Festival. He is the first Montgomery College humanities student to earn this scholarship.
From the MC Newsroom: Two @montgomerycoll Students Earn Prestigious National Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship | Montgomery College, Maryland https://t.co/KpDyRB4Ycj pic.twitter.com/PVFCm6HXHi
— Marcus Rosano (@MC_MarcusPR) May 16, 2025
The award includes academic advising, career support, and access to a network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars and alumni. Flores-Tene and Ruiz join 20 previous Montgomery College students who have received the scholarship.
Flores-Tene plans to study economics. She has been accepted to Georgetown University, the University of Maryland, Dickinson College, and the College of William and Mary.
Ruiz, who remains active in the Latinx theater community, plans to become a college professor. He has received admission offers from Georgetown and George Washington universities.
More than 1,600 students applied for the scholarship. This year, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation named 467 semifinalists, including 10 from Montgomery College. The foundation evaluated each application based on academic excellence, leadership, persistence, and financial need.
Photo courtesy Montgomery College
