Two new graduates receive Cooke scholarships

Author: Julie Hail Flory

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Two members of the University of Notre Dame’s Class of 2005 have won Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarships, which provide up to $50,000 annually for up to six years of graduate or professional studies.

Caitlin Polley, a double major in biology and Spanish fromBethel Park,Pa., and Enrique Schaerer, a double major in political science and finance fromLas Vegas, are two of only 76 winners nationwide. Notre Dame is one of only six institutions to have two students selected to receive the scholarships.

A National Merit Scholar, Polley was a member of the Dean’s List each semester while at Notre Dame. She completed a semester abroad inToledo,Spain, and was active with the University’s Center for Social Concerns. She served as a volunteer at Casa Juan Diego inHoustonand the Spanish Red Cross inToledo, and completed summer service projects inEcuadorandLouisiana. She will pursue her graduate studies in medicine and public health at theUniversityofPennsylvania.

Selected valedictorian of his graduating class, Schaerer earned a 4.0 grade point average and was a member of the Deans List each semester. He also received a Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Scholarship, as well as the Dailey Memorial, Starshak Family, and H.E. Vertin Scholarships, and was awarded the first Julian Samora Scholarship by Notre Dames Hispanic Alumni Association. He plans to pursue his graduate studies atYaleUniversity.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation established by the late Jack Kent Cooke to help young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education. Cooke was a businessman, sportsman and philanthropist. His business interests included ownership of the Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs.

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