Class of 2024 Salutatorian Wins Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

“I couldn’t believe it. I’m still in shock. Today, I woke up and went to check my emails to see if yesterday was a dream and that it did not really happen,” said Nima Sedghi.

This was the day after he learned that he was one of just 60 community college students nationwide to receive the coveted Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship this year.

The momentous scholarship provides recipients up to $55,000 a year to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities, as well as additional support in the form of ongoing advising and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow Cooke Scholars.

That’s not all. Just days before this “life-changing” news, Sedghi learned that he was selected as the salutatorian for the Middlesex College Class of 2024,

The past few days have been the culmination of three remarkable, but challenging, years, for the Iranian-born chemistry major. Sedghi moved to the U.S. in 2021, in the middle of the pandemic.

“My visa got delayed a lot because of the pandemic. I remember it took me four months just to get a date for getting my driver’s license.”

Luckily, he had his older sister to help him acclimate to his new American life. He credits his sister for helping pave the way for his success. Her educational accomplishments provided a roadmap for his own American dream, he says.

“She was a role model for me. When she came here 10 years ago, she was all alone with no one to support her. She got her master’s degree and started working. I saw from her accomplishments that in the U.S. if you really try, have persistence and perseverance, you will be successful.”

He also credits his parents for their unwavering support.

“My mom, especially, always pushed me to be the best version of myself, and her unconditional love and support are what pushed me to aim for the highest points,” he said.

With aspirations of becoming a doctor, Sedghi juggled full-time work at Amazon, where he worked 10-hour shifts, full-time study at Middlesex College, as well as non-classroom activities such as serving as president of the biology society on campus and volunteering at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy.

As he thought back to his first day at Middlesex College in fall 2022, he recalled how difficult everything seemed to be and how overwhelmed he felt.

“First semester, I won’t lie, I did not know what I was doing. Everything was new to me. I was completely unaware of how the education system here worked.”

Sedghi first needed to complete ESL courses before he could even start taking classes toward his major. In the second semester, he developed relationships with faculty in the natural sciences department who served as critical mentors for him as he planned where to go for a bachelor’s degree.

“Professor Donna Gardner-Beadling and Professor Brian Lavey guided me through the entire process of what you need to do, what you need to have, where you can apply. I could not be more grateful to them.”

It was also thanks to Gardner-Beadling that Sedgui first learned of the Cooke scholarship opportunity. Sedghi also had help from an alumnus who had received the award.

Earlier this year, Sedghi and other applicants had the opportunity to meet with past Cooke Scholars, including 2022 winner Thomas Emens.

“He offered a lot of guidance throughout my application process for the Cooke scholarship. I asked his opinion about what kind of approach I should take, what he thought would stand out in terms of my background. With his feedback, I created the application and submitted it. He’s an amazing person.”

Sedghi says he hopes to provide the same support for future Middlesex College students who might be in a similar position as he was.

“I will always help anyone at Middlesex who needs my help because the entire community is built on connections and helping one another. It’s what makes Middlesex such an amazing school.”

Although he has yet to finalize his post-graduation plans, Sedghi has already been accepted to Columbia University.

What is certain is that Sedghi will collect his hard-earned degree at Middlesex College’s 57th Commencement on May 16 and get closer to realizing his dream.

“My life’s ambition is to become a doctor and serve those in need. To realize this dream, I plan to continue my undergraduate education to obtain my bachelor’s degree and then apply to medical school.”