Download images of the students here
From L-R: Johnny Barahona, María Romero, David Ramírez
Photo credit: Miami Dade College
MIAMI, May 19, 2026 — Three Miami Dade College (MDC) Honors College students have been awarded the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a highly competitive program that provides students with up to $55,000 per year to complete a bachelor’s degree.
This year, MDC was among the colleges with the highest number of semifinalists in the nation, with 19 out of 485, and the highest number of winners in Florida, with three out of five recipients statewide.
“We are incredibly proud of what these students have accomplished at Miami Dade College and the contributions they have already made to our community,” said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega. “More importantly, we are excited for what this next chapter represents — not only for their personal journeys, but for the impact they will make in their professions, their communities and beyond. This prestigious honor reflects their extraordinary hard work, resilience and determination. Their dedication to excellence, commitment to learning and passion for making a difference have led them to this remarkable achievement.”
This year’s selection process drew more than 1,300 applications from across the country. Semifinalists represented 224 community colleges across 37 states. Applicants were evaluated based on academic achievement, perseverance and leadership.
MDC students have earned more Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships than any other college in the nation throughout the program’s history.
Meet this year’s Jack Kent Cooke scholars at MDC:
Johnny Barahona
Born in Honduras, Johnny Barahona is a first-generation college student who arrived in Miami at the end of 2019 and faced the challenge of starting high school in a new country during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the oldest sibling, he also helped care for his younger brothers and sisters as well as his grandparents. At MDC’s Honors College, he found a community where he felt he belonged and discovered a passion for service.
Barahona recently graduated from MDC with a degree in accounting and has additional academic interests in economics, international relations and environmental studies. A natural leader and global thinker, he served as president of Phi Beta Lambda and as an Honors College ambassador, while also gaining hands-on experience as a Leadership for Change intern with the Smithsonian Institution. His diverse passions and commitment to public service reflect a clear sense of purpose: He aspires to build a career as an international development economic adviser, using finance and policy as tools for global impact.
David Ramirez
David Ramirez was an engineering major at MDC. Originally from Cuba, he immigrated alone to the United States at 17, overcoming significant personal and financial challenges while adapting to a new language and culture. Despite early instability and the need to work to support himself and his mother, he found opportunity through the Honors College at Miami Dade College, where he immersed himself in rigorous academics and research.
His academic interests span lattice theory, with applications to subspace coding and homological algebra — work that bridges abstract mathematical theory and real-world applications. Ramirez published his first research paper, Structural Redundancy in Subspace Network Coding via Atomic Decomposition, and presented his findings at international conferences, including the ICICT Conference and the Undergraduate Research Technology Conference at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Driven by curiosity and precision, he has been accepted to MIT with a full scholarship, where he plans to pursue a Ph.D. and build a research career at the intersection of mechanical design, dynamics and control.
María Romero
María Romero is a mechanical engineering major and a graduate of Miami Dade College’s Honors College whose academic interests span astrophysics, programming and poetry. Born in Cuba, Romero came to the United States at age 15 with the dream of studying aerospace engineering.
At MDC, she served as president of the Verba Vitae Book Club and presided over her campus Phi Theta Kappa chapter. She also participated in undergraduate research in both physics and mathematics.
Her vision is as expansive as the universe she hopes to explore. Romero aspires to become an aerospace engineer and physicist focused on space exploration and sustainable energy while using writing and poetry as a bridge between science and the human experience. She will continue her academic journey at Princeton University.
“These Scholars reflect the depth of talent and determination found in community colleges across the country,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, chief executive officer of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “They’ve demonstrated what they’re capable of, and we’re proud to help ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent them from continuing their education and realizing their full potential.”
The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides comprehensive support that extends far beyond financial assistance, recognizing that admission and enrollment are only the beginning. Selected Cooke Transfer Scholars receive personalized educational advising from the Foundation’s deans of scholar support, who guide them through the transition to a four-year institution and help prepare them for future careers.
Scholars also gain access to transformative opportunities, including internships, study abroad experiences and graduate school funding, as well as inclusion in a thriving community of more than 3,800 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni who provide mentorship and networking connections throughout their academic and professional lives.
To learn more about the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation website.
About the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students with financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded more than $332 million in scholarships to nearly 3,900 students from eighth grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $144 million in grants to organizations that serve these students.
For more information, visit Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.