University of Richmond Graduate Wins $300,000 Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship
May 20, 2003
Chauntee Schuler, a 2003 graduate of the University of Richmond and resident of Fredericksburg, Va., has received a graduate scholarship of up to $300,000 from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
Cooke, who died in 1997, was the former owner of the Washington Redskins. He set up the foundation to help young people of exceptional promise reach their full potentials through education, said Matthew J. Quinn, executive director of the foundation. This is the second year of existence for the foundation, which awards the largest scholarships in the country.
The foundation awarded 43 graduate scholarships out of 842 applications from students who have strong ties to Virginia, Maryland or the District of Columbia. Each will receive up to $50,000 per year for up to six years of graduate study or professional education. The awards provide funding for tuition, room and board, fees and books for the duration of the scholar's approved degree program. The foundation also awards undergraduate scholarships and grants to high school students.
"For many in the class of 2003, graduate school is only a dream because of costs and other factors," said Quinn. "But these special young people will benefit from the vision of Mr. Cooke and will not have to put music school, medical school and other graduate programs on the back burner while they search for sources of funding."
To be selected, Quinn said, "Individuals had to show not only exceptional academic ability but also a strong will to succeed and other qualities, including demonstrated critical thinking, a love of music or art and appreciation for literature. Each of these attributes was important to Mr. Cooke."
The purpose of the graduate scholarships is to free students from the burden of graduate school debt so they can "pursue their artistic passions, to serve humankind through public service or medical research-to answer their highest calling," said Quinn.
Schuler plans to attend the New School University-Actors Studio Drama School in New York City in the fall. She is the daughter of James and LaVerne Schuler of Fredericksburg and graduated from Massaponax High School.
A theatre major and political science minor, Schuler was a Cigna Scholar at Richmond. Cigna Scholars receive a two-thirds tuition grant and $3,000 for undergraduate research. She also served as academic affairs committee chair in the Westhampton College Student Government Association, was president of Mortar Board honor society and was a member of Golden Key Honour Society and Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership society. She performed with the Ngoma African Dance Company and the Umoja Gospel Choir.
Cooke was a businessman, sportsman and philanthropist. In addition to owning the Washington Redskins, he owned the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club, the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and a thoroughbred racing farm in Lexington, Ky. Among the media outlets he owned were newspapers, magazines, radio stations and cable television stations. His real estate holdings included the Chrysler Building in New York City. Cooke left most of his fortune to establish the foundation.