Three LaGuardia Community College Students Awarded National Community College Transfer Scholarship

Jessica Gallegos, Tabia Tarannum, and Miguel Posada Perez selected from over 1,600 applicants

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (May 13, 2025) — Three LaGuardia Community College/CUNY students are among 90 high-achieving community college students awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Jessica Gallegos, Tabia Tarannum, and Miguel Posada Perez were selected from over 1,600 applicants. The highly competitive national scholarship provides up to $55,000 annually to help Cooke Scholars complete their bachelor’s degrees with minimal debt.

“We are incredibly proud of Jessica, Tabia, and Miguel for being selected for the coveted Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship,” said Dr. Billie Gastic Rosado, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “This scholarship not only recognizes their individual achievements and the quality education they received at LaGuardia, but it also significantly reduces the financial burden of pursuing a bachelor’s degree.”

Jessica Gallegos, 33, is a Music Recording Technology (MRT) major with a 3.74 GPA. Originally from Arizona and now living in Brooklyn, she’s the first in her family to attend college.

“I’ve loved the MRT program at LaGuardia! Professors like Brooks, Candelas, Moyer, Salvati, and Neuner were not only experts but also incredibly supportive,” said Jessica, who credits the MRT club and lab as key to her success.

Jessica balanced full-time work and full-time studies. She joined Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society (PTK) and found mentorship in Dr. Kimberly Ramirez (English) and Dr. Monika Ekiert (Education and Language Acquisition). “Professor Ramirez helped me build the writing foundation I needed, and Dr. Ekiert’s honors course on bilingualism was one of the most fascinating I’ve taken.”

Jessica has applied to NYU Steinhardt, Columbia, and Brooklyn College to pursue her dream of becoming a music producer and sound engineer. “I hope to one day be the first woman to win a Grammy for Producer of the Year—Non-Classical,” she said.

Tabia Tarannum, 20, a Biology major with a 3.9 GPA, is from Sylhet, Bangladesh.

“As a first-generation college student, navigating a new education system was tough—but LaGuardia’s support helped me thrive,” she said. Mentors like Dr. Ingrid Veras (Biology) and Dr. Sorin Radu Cucu (English) played pivotal roles. “Professor Cucu helped me find my voice as a writer. His belief in me transformed my confidence—and my future.”

Her honors capstone paper has been published in LaGuardia’s Honors Journal and used as a model in Cell Biology.

She is president of the STEM Club, an NIH Bridges Scholar, a PTK member, and a Student Government Association Ambassador.

“Being named a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar isn’t just financial support—it’s recognition of my journey, my resilience, and my dreams,” Tabia said.

She has been accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Covenant Scholar, and is weighing other college acceptances. Tabia, who was selected as a 2024 Kaplan Leadership Fellow, plans to pursue a biology degree and ultimately an MD-PhD in anesthesiology, with a focus on advancing healthcare equity.

Miguel Posada Perez, 25, is a Mechanical Engineering major with a 3.76 GPA from Colombia.

After moving to the U.S. at 19 and working three jobs to save for college, he enrolled at LaGuardia in Spring 2020—just as the pandemic hit. Facing job loss, he paused his studies but returned with renewed focus.

Now an NIH Scholar, Miguel conducts research in biomedical engineering and robotics, serves as president of the Physics Club, and is a President’s Society Ambassador. He also tutors Natural Sciences students and is an intern at Boyce Technologies in Long Island City through S.O.A.R. Despite serious health challenges, including a severe allergic reaction that led to a diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, he persevered, retaking Calculus III and earning an A.

“LaGuardia’s diversity and support helped me find my place,” he said. He credits professors Kevin Mark (Chemistry) and Roman Senkov (Physics) for their mentorship. “Professor Mark has supported me since day one—through tutoring, research, and leadership. And Dr. Senkov’s passion for physics and generosity with his time have deeply inspired me.”

Miguel plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He has been accepted to NYU, UVA, Stony Brook, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Rochester, and plans to pursue a bachelor’s in electrical engineering. His goal is to earn a PhD and contribute to interdisciplinary research in biomedical, environmental, and power systems engineering.

2025 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Finalists

The 2025 cohort marks one of the largest in the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s 25-year history, reinforcing its continued commitment to creating debt-free pathways to higher education for high-achieving students with financial need. Finalists are selected based on their academic achievement, unmet financial need, persistence, and leadership qualities.

“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% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16% reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which makes this goal more attainable for selected students, provides last-dollar funding of up to $55,000 per year for up to three years and eases the financial burden of completing a four-year degree. Beyond 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.

A complete list of the 2025 Cooke Transfer Scholar finalists and their respective community colleges is available here. To learn more about the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit the website here.

• • • •

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded almost $304 million in scholarships to more than 3,400 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $136 million in grants to organizations that serve such students.

LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.

####