Amr Abdelkawy - Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Semifinalist

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Amr Abdelkawy, a biology pathway student at Georgia State University Perimeter College, is a semifinalist for the 2026 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Originally from Egypt, he has been in Atlanta for two years and attends classes on Perimeter's Dunwoody Campus.

Abdelkawy is studying pre-med and hopes to continue his studies next year at Georgia State University’s Atlanta Campus or Georgia Institute of Technology. He aspires to become a physician, a neurosurgeon or a cardiothoracic surgeon. Abdelkawy was recently honored during Perimeter's STEM Student Scholars Awards Program as a STEM Scholar in biology. He was also named Sophomore Scholar of Excellence in biology during the STEM Awards.

When asked what it would mean to him to win the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, he said that winning “would allow me to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a physician without any financial burden.  And it would allow me to continue to support local communities and local individuals who want to pursue the same dream.”

A highlight of Abdelkawy's time at Perimeter was establishing the Pre-Med Club. Realizing that pre-med can be a bit overwhelming he set out to create a community. The student-led organization now has 70 members and hosts events, such as CPR demonstrations. It was a learning experience for Abdelkawy and his classmates. "This organization truly changed me," he said. "I always felt like I was catching up to other pre-med students, but I was forced to step into a leadership role where people relied on me for guidance."

What has been the best aspect of attending Perimeter College?
The best thing at Perimeter is the amazing and helpful faculty. An example of how professors have helped me was through my experience trying to find research opportunities. Last summer, after I participated in a research program with Professor Mark Graves, I fell in love with research. I had no clue how to get more research experience or who to ask though. I emailed Professor Yohannes, who connected me with different professors who do research, but no one had any openings at that time. Ultimately, Professor Lochamy, who is my Pre-Med Club advisor, agreed to start a research project with me. He has been my mentor throughout the whole project that I am still working on about mistletoe! I appreciate how professors here really care about student success and work with them closely.

What motivates you to keep moving forward with your academic and career journey?
My motivation is the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. Medicine is a career where you can directly improve someone’s health and quality of life, which I find very meaningful. Knowing that the work I put in now could eventually allow me to help patients and their families keeps me focused during challenging times in school. I’m also motivated by personal growth. College pushes me to become more disciplined and curious. Even when classes are difficult, overcoming those challenges reminds me that progress takes effort and persistence.

What experiences shaped who you are today and where you want to go with your career?
Different experiences shaped who I am today but specifically what I love to mention is the culture shock that I had moving from Egypt to the United States where everything is different. I no longer get everything I want but instead I have to work for everything I want. I’ve learned discipline. My academic journey was also different as education in the United States is very different from Egypt.

How have you overcome challenges or experienced growth?
I overcame challenges such as adapting to the American education system and the cultural difference and so many more by never giving up and never quitting. I always go by these two statements in my life, to never quit and always keep trying again and again. Balancing extracurricular activities, research, classes, a job and family responsibilities was definitely difficult but knowing that it will pay off at the end was a motivation and a reason to continue.

Perimeter College has been home to an impressive number of recipients of the national Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Since 2002, 30 Perimeter students have received the competitive award from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, which offers each winner up to $55,000 per year for up to three years. It’s the country’s largest private scholarship for two-year and community college transfer students. Perimeter JKC winners have succeeded in bachelor’s degree programs (and beyond) at Georgia State University and other prominent institutions such as Yale, Georgia Tech, MIT, Emory University, Howard University, University of Southern California, Stanford University and Agnes Scott College.