LANSDOWNE, Va., Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The most generous and personalized five-year scholarship and educational support program in the nation is accepting applications for its Young Scholars Program, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced today. The Foundation seeks 7th graders from low- to moderate- income families who stand out because of their high academic ability and achievement, persistence, and desire to help others.

“By enabling high-achieving, low-income students to thrive in school and beyond, we can begin to close the excellence gap in this country,” said Executive Director Harold O. Levy. “This is why our Young Scholars Program tailors its services to make sure that each and every scholar starting in the 8th grade participates in high-quality after school and summer experiences, has access to stimulating and rigorous curricula throughout high school, and gets comprehensive guidance on how to prepare for, apply to, select, and pay for a college that is the best fit for him or her.”

Young Scholars come from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and from rural, suburban, and urban communities throughout the U.S. They are typically in the top one percent of their class academically, having family incomes averaging $30,000 annually.

Up to 65 students will be selected and paired with an educational adviser who will work to ensure that scholars are academically challenged and inspired, have the financial resources to develop their academic and extracurricular talents, and are prepared for success at competitive colleges and universities. Successful Young Scholars are eligible to apply for the Foundation’s $40,000 per year College Scholarship.

The application deadline is April 14, 2015. To learn more about the scholarship, visit http://www.jkcf.org/ysp.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. By offering the largest scholarships in the country, in-depth academic counseling and other direct services, the Foundation seeks to help high-performing, low-income students to develop their talents and excel educationally. In addition to providing students both counseling and financial support from middle school to graduate school, the Foundation provides grants for noteworthy and innovative initiatives that support high- performing, low-income students. Founded in 2000, the Foundation has awarded over $130 million in scholarships to nearly 1,900 students and over $80 million in grants. www.jkcf.org

CONTACT: Audrey Mullen, 1-202-270-2772, [email protected]