Public Relations & Marketing

HCC student is a semifinalist for Cooke Transfer Scholarship

Hagerstown Community College student Rachel Haymes, of Hagerstown, has been named a semifinalist for the highly competitive 2025 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. She was chosen as one of 467 community college students chosen from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants at 212 community colleges in 43 states. The rigorous selection process assesses candidates on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, demonstrated financial need, perseverance, and leadership.

Haymes will graduate from HCC in May, with an associate degree in administration of justice, pre-law track. At HCC, she was a member and team captain of the HCC women’s soccer team, Student Government Association member, and PTK member. She also served as a social media influencer, testing center receptionist, and fitness center employee.

Haymes completed an internship at the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office during her last semester. Upon graduation, she plans to attend a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s in criminal justice, with the University of Maryland College Park being her top choice as she awaits admission decisions. Her ultimate goal is to attend law school, become a state prosecutor, and ultimately, a federal judge.

This Cooke Foundation Scholarship aims to help community college students who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, leadership, and service transfer to top four-year institutions and avoid student debt. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution in the U.S.

(April 15, 2025)