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Six students from Georgia State University’s Perimeter College have been named semifinalists for the 2025 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Jack Kent Cooke award is a competitive scholarship for the nation’s top two-year college students. It provides recipients with up to $55,000 per year, placing the scholarship among the largest private awards in the country for community college transfer students. The semifinalists, all Perimeter Honors College students working toward their associate degrees, are among 467 individuals selected from more than 1,600 applicants attending 212 community colleges in 43 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the Northern Mariana Islands. The following is a profile of one of Perimeter's semifinalists.
DUNWOODY, Ga. – Bisma Malik enjoys the challenge of solving complex problems.
"I've always felt a deep fascination for STEM—it’s where my curiosity truly comes alive," she shared.
This intellectual curiosity led Bisma to enroll as a computer science student at Perimeter College in Spring 2024, where she’s excelling and standing out as one of this year’s Jack Kent Cooke scholarship semifinalists.
Bisma completed her elementary education in New York City and graduated from high school with honors in her native Pakistan. She takes pride in her culturally diverse upbringing, which has deeply influenced her identity. “I believe both places have shaped me into who I am today,” she shared.
In high school, Bisma excelled in debating, earning high ranks for her debate abilities, including recognition as Best Speaker. As a STEM enthusiast, she had a broad interest in various STEM subjects but was unsure which career path to pursue.
Her passion for computer science ignited after attending a webinar on the subject, leading her to explore and deepen her knowledge through online resources. “This could be the start of something great,” Bisma thought when exploring computer science as a career option. "When I came to Perimeter, I enrolled in computer science classes and quickly discovered how much I enjoyed them. That’s when I knew I wanted to keep pursuing it."
Throughout her college journey, Bisma has demonstrated exceptional academic excellence, earning Student of the Semester honors in calculus, pre-calculus, physics lab, and computer science. Additionally, she has been selected as the Sophomore 2024-25 Perimeter College STEM Scholar and will be recognized for this honor in April.
She is a member of the Dunwoody Computer Science Club, where she engages with a community of like-minded CS enthusiasts. Recently, her interest in leadership and community building led her to join the Student Government Association as a senator for Clubs and Organizations. In this role, she focuses on supporting the success of campus clubs by fostering collaboration and organizing events. These experiences have allowed her to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and contribute to a vibrant campus community. “That’s something I’ve enjoyed being a part of,” Bisma said.
In 2024, she presented her research on the underrepresentation of women in STEM at the Perimeter Honors College Dunwoody Campus Research Showcase, reflecting her dedication to promoting gender equity in the field.
After graduating from Perimeter in the Summer of 2025, Bisma plans to enroll in a well-regarded four-year institution to further her preparation for a career in computer science. Receiving the Cooke scholarship would help bring her closer to achieving this dream.
"This scholarship will open new doors for me, allowing me to attend an esteemed four-year institute. It will enable me to immerse myself in a rigorous academic environment, participate in unique learning experiences, and cultivate the skills necessary to achieve my goals," Bisma said.
While Bisma is still exploring the specific path she wants to pursue in computer science, she is particularly intrigued by the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.
“A lot of times, solving problems requires patience and focus,” she said. “But the satisfaction you feel when it finally clicks—that’s something I truly enjoy.”
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will announce its 2025 scholarship recipient in May.
Story by Kysa Anderson Daniels
Photo by Bill Roa