Perimeter College Graduates Win Prestigious National Scholarship, Among Top in Nation

DUNWOODY, Ga. – Two recent graduates of Georgia State University Perimeter College have earned one of the nation's most prestigious scholarships, placing them among top community college students in the country. Ndeye Sarr and Navila Azad are 2026 recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, joining just 60 students selected nationwide.

Since 2002, Perimeter College has produced 30 Cooke Scholars, and Sarr and Azad continue the legacy of outstanding students as the 31^st and 32^nd. Of the 1,300 applicants from community colleges across the country, 485 were selected as semifinalists, including seven from Perimeter College this year. Sarr and Azad are the only winners from the state of Georgia.

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

The highly competitive national scholarship aims for Cooke Scholars to complete their undergraduate educations with as little debt and financial barriers as possible. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, will provide as much as $55,000 a year to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Scholarship winners also receive personalized advising to guide their academic and professional journeys as well as access to a nationwide network of more than 3,400 Cooke scholars and alumni, along with opportunities for internships, study abroad and graduate school support.

Sarr and Azad, who were both in the Honors College at Perimeter, learned that they won the scholarship during a surprise meeting with Dean Barbara J. Johnson at Perimeter’s Dunwoody campus on Monday, May 11. In addition to Dean Johnson and supportive staff, the meeting included professors who had worked closely with Sarr and Azad during their time at the college. Sarr studied engineering and Azad studied physics. They both also received top honors from the college last month. Sarr received a STAR Award and a STEM Scholar award in engineering, and Azad received a STAR Award and a STEM Scholar award in physics.

“We are so very proud of Ndeye and Navila,” said Dean Johnson, “Congratulations to each of them on all of their accomplishments. We know many more are yet to come!”

Sarr will attend Duke University in the fall after completing the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Stanford University. Azad will attend Yale University in the fall after conducting research on neutrinos this summer.

A list of this year’s Cooke Transfer Scholars and their community colleges can be found here.

-Story by Christy Petterson
-Photo by Bill Roa