Baltimore County, MD – (May 21, 2026) – The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has selected two Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) students, Celina De Caul and Sanjana Gaddam, to receive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships. The scholarships support the completion of a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution. The two are among 60 students chosen to receive scholarships from a pool of 1,300 applicants nationwide. They are the only community college students in Maryland to receive this year’s award. The scholarship program considers academic performance, persistence and financial need. Five CCBC students made the final round of consideration as semifinalists.
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship supports recipients in earning their bachelor’s degrees without incurring debt at any accredited four-year college or university in the United States. The scholarship offers last‑dollar funding of up to $55,000 per year for two to three years, helping to eliminate financial obstacles so that high-achieving community college students can successfully transfer to and excel at the nation’s top institutions.
Winner Celina De Caul, majoring in chemistry, is from Stafford, Va., and hopes to become a neonatal and fetal surgeon. Sanjana Gaddam, majoring in general studies, is from Owings Mills, Md., and plans to attend law school after earning her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.
Both students selected as winners are scholars in the CCBC Honors College, a unique program that supports particularly talented, motivated and intellectually curious students in pursuing their associate degrees before transferring to four-year institutions for their bachelor’s studies. Honors College scholars receive enhanced academic and personal support through one-on-one faculty and peer mentoring, comprehensive transfer advising, and early access to transformational experiences, including undergraduate research, service-learning, and study abroad opportunities.
The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides comprehensive support that extends beyond financial assistance, recognizing that admission and enrollment are only the beginning. Selected Cooke Transfer Scholars receive personalized educational advising from the Foundation’s Deans of Scholar Support, who guide them through the transition to a four-year institution and help prepare them for future careers.
Scholars also gain access to transformative opportunities, including internships, study abroad experiences, and graduate school funding, as well as inclusion in a thriving community of more than 3,800 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni who provide mentorship and networking connections throughout their academic and professional lives.
“These Scholars reflect the depth of talent and determination found in community colleges across the country,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, chief executive officer of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “They’ve demonstrated what they’re capable of, and we’re proud to help ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent them from continuing their education and realizing their full potential.”
To learn more about the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit the website.
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, over 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction, and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.
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