Vianney Verdin Maldonado Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Recipient

Hanceville, Ala. — Wallace State Community College is proud to announce that Vianney Verdin Maldonado was selected as a recipient of the highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The award, valued at up to $55,000 per year for 3 years, will allow Maldonado the resources to complete her bachelor’s degree debt free at most any institution in the nation. 

“We are incredibly proud of Vianney’s achievements and her selection as a Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholar,” said Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics. “She has been an outstanding student leader at Wallace State with the drive, determination and intellectual curiosity to dream big and achieve her goals. This prestigious scholarship is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and academic excellence.”

She will join other Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients for Scholars Weekend in Virginia in late July.

Maldonado, Wallace State’s third Jack Kent Cooke transfer scholarship winner, reflects the high standards and supportive environment at Wallace State. The college was recently named one of the Top 3 institutions in the nation and recognized as an Aspen Institute Rising Star.

Maldonado, of Oneonta, graduated from Wallace State in 2024 with a degree in General Studies. She plans to continue her education at New York University or Auburn University, where she plans to pursue dual degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology, with a goal of earning her doctorate and working in neuroscience psychology.

She was named the college’s Student of the Year in 2024 and was recognized by the Alabama Community College System with her selection for the 2024 All-Alabama Academic Team.

Maldonado joins Aljon Cellis (2020) and Chelsea Allen (2008) as Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients. Bryan Simmons was named a semifinalist in 2021.

The 2025 cohort marks one of the largest in the Foundation’s 25-year history, reinforcing its continued commitment to creating debt-free pathways to higher education for high-achieving students with financial need.

“This year’s cohort reflects the remarkable talent and determination thriving in community colleges nationwide,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Executive Director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “As we mark 25 years of impact, we remain committed to amplifying the successes of these students and opening doors to the opportunities they deserve.”

While nearly 80 percent of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16 percent reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship aims to increase bachelor’s degree attainment for community college students. Beyond last-dollar-funding, Scholars receive personalized advising to guide their academic and professional journeys. Scholars also gain access to a nationwide network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars and Alumni, along with opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school support – ensuring they have every tool needed to thrive beyond community college.

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.