2 Lone Star College System sisters secure Jack Kent Cooke scholarships to complete bachelor’s degrees

CONROE, TX -- Lone Star College-Montgomery students and sisters Emily and Milagro Salinas have been awarded the highly selective Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and will each receive up to $55,000 per year to complete their bachelor’s degrees after graduating from Lone Star College System.

The prestigious scholarship supports high-achieving community college students with financial need who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, perseverance and leadership. The 2026 cohort of JKC Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients includes 60 community college students nationwide, with the Salinas sisters being the only two Texas students selected.

“Jack Kent Cooke finalists and semifinalists will have opportunities they didn’t think possible as they move on to other higher education institutions beyond Lone Star College System,” said Katharine Caruso, Ph.D., LSCS associate vice chancellor, Honors and International Education. “We congratulate Emily and Milagro on this incredible achievement and can’t wait to see them ‘Do the Thing.’”

Emily and Milagro are both graduating from LSC-Montgomery this spring with Honors associate degrees as Chancellor’s Fellows and members of Phi Theta Kappa. Emily plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at Rice University, while Milagro plans to pursue a degree in industrial engineering at either Texas A&M University or the University of Houston.

Throughout their time at LSCS, the Salinas sisters have been there for each other as they’ve gone through the Honors College, taken similar classes and learned about the research process. Now they have the unique experience of celebrating their selection as JKC finalists together.

“Just knowing that someone else was going through the process of filling out the application and preparing for the interview with me was very helpful,” Milagro said. “If I’m struggling, I have someone who can support me who knows what it’s like.”

Milagro was recognized at the Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Consortium and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research for her research: “Evaluating the Impact of Dredging on PCB Pollutant Loads in the Hudson River.” She plans to study abroad in Spain this summer and will participate in the Nanomaterials Research Experiences for Undergraduates at Rice University.

Emily and Milagro are first-generation college students, so they have relied heavily on the Honors College community over the last two years to navigate the college experience. Together, they have grown as students and are now looking forward to supporting each other in their next chapters.

“I was really excited once I saw that we were both semifinalists, and I thought that was going to be it. I was very happy to share that experience and celebrate that together,” Emily said. “The Honors College is such a tight-knit community. Even if I didn’t have my sister, multiple people would be there to give me advice and support me. That’s what makes the experience feasible and enjoyable.”

As part of the Take Flight STEM Scholar program, Emily conducted research on sustainable nanotechnology, focusing on electrochemical lithium extraction at Rice University. She also presented calculus-based research at the Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Consortium and Great Plains Honors Council. Emily plans to participate in a capstone experience in Spain this summer, as well as a research program at Texas A&M University College of Engineering.

“These Scholars reflect the depth of talent and determination found in community colleges across the country,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation CEO. “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.”

Earlier this year, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation named 485 semifinalists nationwide from more than 1,300 applicants. With 19 semifinalists, LSCS and Miami Dade College tied for the most semifinalists produced.

Lone Star College Foundation held a luncheon in late April, during which they announced that the remaining semifinalists would receive a $10,000 scholarship from an anonymous donor.

“Lone Star College Foundation is proud to support these students in their next chapters with the help of our generous donors,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSCS associate vice chancellor, Foundation Advancement. “We know your future is going to be bright, and we are thankful that we get to be a small part of it.”

All eight LSCS campuses were represented on this year’s list of semifinalists for the first time in the college system’s history.

Learn more about the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation at JKCF.org.