Glendale Community College (GCC) recently announced that two of its students, Andre Christopher and Ernesto Lozada Gutierrez, have been named recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious and generous awards for community college transfer students.

This marks the second consecutive year that GCC has had two students earn this highly competitive honor, underscoring the college’s commitment to academic excellence and student success. Christopher and Lozada Gutierrez, both mechanical engineering students at GCC, were selected from a national pool of more than 1,300 applicants representing community colleges across the country. Only 60 students nationwide received the award this year, chosen from a semifinalist pool of 485, based on academic achievement, perseverance, and leadership.

“We are incredibly proud of Andre and Ernesto and the personal and academic journeys that have brought them to this moment,” said GCC Superintendent/President Dr. Ryan Cornner. “Their stories reflect our belief at GCC that with the right support and determination, our students can achieve anything. Having two Jack Kent Cooke Scholars for the second year in a row is a tremendous source of pride for our entire GCC community.”

Andre Christopher is a mechanical engineering student who chose GCC as a second chance after academic challenges early in high school left him with limited college options. What began as a three-hour daily round-trip commute and minimal campus involvement transformed into late nights studying in the Buena Vista science building as Christopher worked, saved and steadily built the academic confidence that now sets him apart. He is deciding between UCLA and UC Berkeley to complete his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a potential minor in data science and plans to continue on to a master’s degree and possibly a Ph.D. Christopher describes his greatest accomplishment at GCC as the dramatic growth in his mathematical and scientific ability, a night-and-day shift from his high school self that reflects his core philosophy of gradual, consistent self-improvement. Though his ultimate career path remains open, he is certain it will involve continuous learning and helping others. He credits honest feedback from a trusted friend and the guidance of GCC counselors as key to his development, and he encourages fellow students to pursue whatever genuinely interests them inspires their personal growth.

Ernesto Lozada Gutierrez is a mechanical engineering student at GCC who arrived in the United States from Cuba with a determination to continue his education and build a better future. Beginning with ESL classes before transitioning into college-level engineering coursework, Lozada Gutierrez embraced every opportunity GCC offered. He served as both an ESL student ambassador and an engineering peer mentor, and contributed to engineering projects like “Go Baby Go,” where students adapted ride-on cars for children with physical disabilities. He will transfer to California State University, Northridge to complete his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with plans to pursue a master’s degree focused on robotics and automation and, ultimately, a Ph.D. His long-term vision combines engineering expertise with entrepreneurship to develop technologies that improve accessibility and inspire the next generation of STEM students. 

Lozada Gutierrez credits his family’s sacrifices and the unwavering support of GCC’s faculty and staff as the driving forces behind an academic journey that he describes as proof that perseverance and determination can make anything possible.

The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides last dollar funding after all institutional aid and can provide as much as $55,000 per year to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited undergraduate institution. Beyond financial support, scholars receive personalized advising to guide their academic and professional journeys. They also gain access to a nationwide network of more than 3,900 Cooke Scholars and Alumni, along with opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school support, ensuring they have the tools needed to thrive beyond community college.

Provided by Glendale Community College