JKC Foundation scholarship is an LSC-CyFair first

Future pharmacist Thanhphuong Le makes Lone Star College-Cy Fair history.

Lone Star College-CyFair student Thanhphuong Le has earned a prestigious scholarship.

Le, who is studying to become a pharmacist, is the recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The JKC Foundation awards up to $30,000 per year to 50 students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Each award is intended to cover a significant share of educational expenses.

With an LSC-CyFair associate degree, Le was ready to transfer this fall to the University of Houston. But without a car, she was worried about transportation.

"Now I will have the chance to stay on campus in the dorm and get involved in organizations and participate in evening events," said Le, who will be the first in her family to graduate college, in a press release.

While at LSC-CyFair, Le found the environment familiar to high school with small classes and opportunities to connect with her professors.

"My English is not that good," said Le, whose family moved from Vietnam to the United States five years ago. "I didn't think I could stand in front of people and talk, but then I got involved in Phi Theta Kappa with Professor Jamili Omar's encouragement."

In addition to taking and excelling in a variety of courses, Le was a member of the math club, participated in a student symposium and proved to be a student leader as she completed the Leadership Lone Star College program.

"Thanh Le is so typical of many of our leadership students in that she's very demure, but has great ideas and leads by example," said John Turner, LLSC program coordinator in the release. "What makes her stand above the average leader is her quiet charisma that draws others to her and allows her to show the type of servant leadership that our society so desperately needs."

LSC gives students opportunities to enhance leadership skills while learning more about their community. Le most enjoyed the visit to the Texas Medical Center.

"We learned about kids who need help," she said. "It inspired me and reassured me about my goal to be a pharmacist."

Le is one of four students in Lone Star College System history to earn this prestigious scholarship. Nguyen Nguyen at LSC-North Harris is also a 2012 scholarship recipient. Amos Zimmerman at LSC-Kingwood was a 2011 recipient and Lori Langdon at LSC-North Harris was a 2002 recipient.

For information on the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, visit www.jkc.org. For information on Leadership Lone Star College or LSC-CyFair, go to LoneStar.edu/collegiate-leadership-institute.