Cerritos College News Release

NORWALK, Calif. – May 21, 2009 – Monirath Siv, a Cerritos College honors student, has been named one of the nation’s top scholars by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program.

Siv, of Long Beach, was among 30 students chosen from nearly 500 applicants from two-year colleges nationwide. The scholarship, which is one of the most competitive undergraduate transfer scholarships in the nation, will provide Siv with up to $30,000 per year to complete a bachelor’s degree.

He will be invited to attend the Foundation’s “Scholars Weekend” at Johns Hopkins University in July, with all travel expenses paid by the Foundation.

“Much like the All-USA Team honor that he received a month ago, this is a VERY rare honor bestowed upon a student and a campus,” said Professor Timothy Juntilla, who assisted Siv through the application process for both awards. “In fact, Monirath Siv is the only Cerritos College student to win either, let alone both, of these national honors.”

Siv, an engineering major, has also been chosen as California’s 2009 New Century Scholar, namely the top student of the state, and named to the All-USA Community College Academic Team in April. Originally from Cambodia, Siv plans to expand his education by double majoring in biomedical engineering and chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis beginning the fall 2009 semester.

“I would like to thank Professor Juntilla during the nomination and recommendation process for the JKC Scholarship and for his constant support,” said Siv. “This scholarship will open me up to many possibilities. It will allow me to attend a top-notch private university in the nation debt-free.”

"Our Undergraduate Transfer Scholars have achieved great academic success, demonstrating a strong will to succeed in spite of pressing financial need. They are some of the best students coming out of community colleges today and we are happy to help them realize their educational goals," said Dr. Matthew Quinn, Executive Director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship honors excellence by supporting outstanding community college students with financial need to transfer to and complete their bachelor’s degrees at the nation’s top four-year colleges and universities. The Foundation provides up to $30,000 per year to between 30 and 50 deserving students selected annually, making it the largest private scholarship for two-year and community college transfer students in the country.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 26,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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Cerritos College

Releases 2009