CT State Northwestern Student Awarded Prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

Winsted – CT State Northwestern is proud to announce one of this year’s graduating students, Carla Galaise, has been named a 2024 Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholar and is eligible to receive up to $55,000 per year in scholarship as she continues her undergraduate studies. Galaise is one of sixty scholars awarded out of 1,700 applications received nationally. She is the only recipient in Connecticut.

“It’s an absolute honor and I’m eternally grateful for this life-changing scholarship for me and my son,” said Galaise in a recent statement to the campus faculty and staff. “There's no words to capture how grateful I am for my time here at Northwestern…It's been an absolute honor representing our small but mighty school.” 

A single mother from Torrington, Galaise has actively participated in many activities and opportunities at the Northwestern campus and within the CT State Colleges and University (CSCU) system. She was elected chair of the CT Board of Regents Student Advisory Committee, where she represented all 55,000 community college students as a voting member of the Board of Regents, the governing body of CSCU. She was also active as a Vice President in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society campus chapter, was named to the CT All-CT Academic Team, was a member of the history club and campus student senate, and served as a legislative intern at the capitol. 

Galaise has been accepted to Stanford University in California and will be relocating this summer with her son. 

“We are all very proud of Carla and all she has achieved while a student at Northwestern,” said Northwestern campus president, Dr. Michael Rooke. “Her commitment to learning has helped secure a positive future for herself and her son. I know she will do well and achieve her goals.” 

Professor Todd Bryda is the campus representative for the Cooke transfer scholarship and the Phi Theta Kappa campus chapter advisor and was instrumental in encouraging Galaise to apply. “Carla is truly an amazing person. It has been a joy watching her grow here at Northwestern,” he said. 

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation was founded in 2000 at the bequest of philanthropic entrepreneur Jack Kent Cooke. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship allows students to finish their undergraduate degree programs at a four-year institution with minimal debt. In addition to the last dollar scholarship funding provided, Cooke Scholars also receive networking and educational and career advising services and are eligible for internship and graduate school funding from the Foundation. 

“For such a small school, Northwestern has had exceptionally good luck at getting semi-finalists and finalists over the years,” said Bryda.  "Carla will be the fourth Northwestern student to receive this prestigious award."