Ashna Bhatia and Yashvi Modi Named Semifinalists for Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

In a remarkable achievement, Ashna Bhatia of Calabasas High School, California, and Yashvi Modi, a senior from LaGrange High School in Tennessee, have been selected as semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship. This competitive scholarship program seeks to assist exceptional students with financial needs, helping them pursue higher education.

The Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship is known for offering up to $55,000 per year to deserving recipients, which helps cover tuition, living expenses, and other educational costs at accredited undergraduate institutions. This funding is designed to ensure that scholars graduate with minimal debt, significantly easing the financial burden of pursuing higher education.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Cooke Foundation, which has been supporting high-achieving students nationwide. Semifinalists like Bhatia and Modi are part of an elite group selected from more than 4,200 high schools across all 50 states and U.S. territories. With a rigorous selection process and a newly introduced minimum GPA requirement of 3.75, these students stand out for their academic excellence and leadership potential.

The foundation’s Vice President of Scholarship Programs, Natalie Rodriguez Jansorn, shared her pride in how the Cooke Scholar community has evolved, marking this milestone year with continued growth. The final recipients of the scholarship will be announced in late March following a comprehensive review of their applications.

Both Bhatia and Modi were selected based on their exceptional academic records, leadership skills, and the potential to make significant contributions to society. The scholarship’s mission is to provide opportunities for students like them, who have proven their dedication despite financial constraints.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s commitment to college affordability comes at a critical time when many students and their families face growing challenges in funding higher education. The semifinalists, including Bhatia and Modi, represent the future leaders of various industries and communities across the U.S., and their achievements are being celebrated as part of this highly competitive scholarship journey.