John Cooper graduate awarded highly selective Jefferson Scholarship

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Douglas Ziman, a 2015 graduate of The John Cooper School, has been awarded one of the most highly selective merit scholarships in the nation. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation at The University of Virginia (UVa) selected Ziman as one of 34 recipients of the Jefferson Scholarship.

Recipients of the Jefferson Scholarship receive the full cost of attending UVa. The selection process involves a rigorous, highly competitive, multi-stage selection process. This year, out of 1,701 students nominated for the scholarship, 116 finalists were invited to take part in a five-day competition that included seminar discussions, essay and mathematics examinations and a final round of interviews conducted by U.Va. alumni and faculty.

The Class of 2019 Jefferson Scholars come from 13 states and three foreign countries. He will join a community of 132 current Jefferson Scholars this fall and, in addition to receiving the full cost of attending UVa., will benefit from many enrichment programs sponsored by the Foundation, such as travel abroad, career networking activities, outdoor challenge programs and a leadership speaker series. Ziman plans to study mechanical engineering and either double major or minor in business.

"I am very pleased to be a recipient of the scholarship and am excited about the prospect of working in and around the people I met through the selection process," he said.

Ziman attended The John Cooper School since the fourth grade and in Upper School was elected to the Honor Council, serving as the chair during his senior year. He played saxophone in the band and orchestra, was captain of the Quiz Bowl team and co-founded the Ethics Bowl team. He also submitted an Advanced Placement portfolio in sculpture, participated in the MS 150 for three consecutive years and worked as an intern at the Huntsman Corporation. Ziman was selected by members of the Cooper Class of 2015 to serve as the Class Speaker at commencement that was held on May 22.