We are pleased to share Hostos alumna Folusho Adeoti has been named a semifinalist for the competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced on February 24, 2022 this year’s semifinalists for the prestigious award, which supports remarkable community college students with financial need as they pursue their bachelor’s degree. Adeoti, who graduated from Hostos in the Fall of 2021, is among 440 semifinalists selected from a pool of more than 1,200 applicants attending 180 community colleges in 35 states.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Adeoti moved to New York City in May of 2018 and a few months later enrolled at Folusho AdeotiHostos, where she majored in Liberal Arts and Sciences. “I wanted some where close to home, and the diversity of the school was also a great thing. Everyone is here at Hostos,” she explained. “I thought it was a good place to start my academic journey in this country, and I was right.”  

Despite the social distancing protocols and limits in place throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Adeoti flourished within the community she found at Hostos. Eager to become more involved with the College, she got in touch with Jason Libfeld, Coordinator for the Student Leadership Academy (SLA), and the rest was history. In addition to joining the SLA, she joined Hostos’ Honors Program, ASAP, and was elected President of Phi Theta Kappa. It was through her participation in these programs that she learned about the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, and Libfeld ultimately became the person who would tell her the good news: that she’d been selected as a semifinalist.

Adeoti, who is in the U.S. on a visa, said she found it “difficult to qualify for scholarships,” so the prospect of being selected to receive the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Student Scholarship is especially meaningful. She also expressed gratitude for the support she’s received throughout the application process, particularly from Professor Sarah Hoiland, who wrote her a letter of recommendation for the scholarship. 

The 20-year-old is currently studying Computer Science at New York University. She looks forward to someday going on to pursue a career in cyber security and eventually creating a scholarship to help students like herself.
“I’m very interested in creating scholarship opportunities that I wasn’t able to find,” she said. “When I become more successful in my field, I would like to create opportunities for people who are here on specific visas. I would like to help financially when I am able to.”

We wish her continued luck in all of her endeavors.

The 2022 Transfer Scholars will be announced in early May.