Southeast New Mexico College

Tessa Folks, a student at Southeast New Mexico College, has been named New Mexico's 2024 New Century Transfer Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship. Tessa is the first Southeast New Mexico College student to receive the scholarship and represented New Mexico at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Convention in Louisville, KY on April 8, 2024. To become a New Century Transfer Scholar is a competitive process. According to Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), New Century Transfer Scholars are selected based on their academic accomplishments, leadership, activities, and how they extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. Over 2,200 students from more than 1,300 college campuses nationwide were nominated. Only one New Century Transfer Scholar is selected from each state. The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa, and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has selected Tessa Folks as one of the 60 high-achieving community college students to receive the prestigious Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This highly competitive award allows students to complete their undergraduate degrees at four-year institutions with minimal financial burden.