News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2008

TWO COTTEY GRADUATES HONORED WITH PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS

NEVADA, MO—Cottey College is pleased to announce that two members of the graduating class of 2008 have been recognized for their academic achievements with prestigious national scholarships. Alexandra Swidergal received a Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, valued at up to $30,000 annually, and Tamara Sevier received a Morris K. Udall Scholarship valued at up to $10,000.

Alexandra Swidergal, from Washington state, was one of only 46 students out of 700 applicants to be named a Cooke Scholar. Swidergal has always had a passion for the sciences. Having seen her mother battle and survive breast cancer, Alexandra realized that “knowing how and why the illness affected her was only to be found through science.” She believes there are still important discoveries to be made on a cellular level “that will contribute to the knowledge of human activity and development.”

Swidergal’s interests include art, science, international initiatives, and travel. She visited Guatemala last year as part of the Color Their World project. “By spending time with the people of Guatemala, I found that the true meaning of resiliency is not to instantly look on the bright side, but to build pride and peace within yourself and embrace the joys in your life.”

Swidergal plans to earn a Ph.D. in cell biology and hopes to leave an imprint on the

world “by serving others and contributing to global improvements in health and lifestyle.”

Swidergal was on the President’s List and Dean’s List, and was inducted into the English Honor Society of Sigma Kappa Delta. She has also won two awards at the State Leadership conference of Phi Beta Lambda: third place in Hospitality Management, and third place in Public Speaking.

Tamara Sevier of Texas was one of 80 students nationwide to receive a Morris K. Udall Scholarship. Sevier will be transferring from Cottey College to Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, in pursuit of an environmental studies degree with a concentration on policy. One of her most influential experiences was participating in a scientific expedition in the Sierra Nevada region of California studying the effects of global warming on desert plants with a team from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has mentored at-risk youth, teaching and conducting water chemistry tests along the Colorado River region in Austin, Texas. She enjoys rock climbing, croquet, traveling, film, music, and spending time with family and friends.

Each year the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation works to identify the best community college students in the nation to receive its prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which awards up to $30,000 per year for up to three years, making it the country’s largest, most competitive undergraduate transfer scholarship.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awards Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships to approximately 50 deserving students annually. Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees – for the final two to three years necessary to achieve a bachelor’s degree. Awards

vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships he or she may receive. With this year’s recipients, the total number of Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships awarded now totals 295 since the inception of the program.

In 2008, the Morris K. Udall Scholarship Foundation expects to award 80 scholarships and 50 honorable mentions on the basis of merit to sophomore and junior level college students. Scholarships are offered in any of three categories:

  • To students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment; or
  • To Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to tribal public policy; or
  • To Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to Native health care.

The Udall Foundation seeks future leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics. The Foundation also seeks future Native American and Alaska Native leaders in public and community health care, tribal government, and public policy affecting Native American communities, including land and resource management, economic development, and education.

Cottey College, located in Nevada, Missouri, is a two-year, independent, liberal arts and sciences college for women. Its residential capacity of 350 students typically represents 40 states and 14 countries. Cottey is owned and supported by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and international women’s organization of approximately 250,000 members. This makes Cottey the only nonsectarian college in the United States owned and supported by women for women.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Information at 417-667-8181, ext. 2140.