Rajan Bell, Wheaton High School, and Ronny Picardo, Northwest High School, have been named recipients of the 2026 Cooke College Scholarship, a prestigious national award that provides students with up to $55,000 per year to attend college.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation selected 60 students nationwide for this year’s scholarship. The award supports high-achieving students with financial need and provides not only substantial financial assistance, but also academic advising, career guidance, internship opportunities and access to a national network of scholars and alumni.
This year’s applicants come from more than 4,100 high schools across all 50 states as well as Washington, DC, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. MCPS was well represented among this year’s Cooke College Scholarship semifinalists. Students recognized at the semifinalist level included Kevin Alvarenga Perez of Gaithersburg High School; Brianna Cherry of Watkins Mill High School; Maraki Fekade, Rediet Moges and Solomie Negash of Wheaton High School; Daniel Hoang of Montgomery Blair High School; and Mia Melton and Jasmine Reyes of Albert Einstein High School.
According to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, the scholarship is designed to help exceptional students graduate from college with as little debt as possible while supporting their long-term academic and professional success.
Learn more about the 2026 Cooke College Scholarship recipients.
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Rajan Bell, Wheaton High School
Bell plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis, where he will major in English and public health. Throughout high school, he has pursued opportunities focused on biomedical research, health policy, advocacy and community development.
Bell completed internships with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Oncology Center of Excellence, the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences through the DC HAPP program, and Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. His experiences included conducting research on cancer care disparities, presenting findings to medical professionals, and supporting older adults with cognitive and physical disabilities through medical adult day care programming.
He also served as a founding member and chair of the countywide student-led School Health Council, helping advocate for Maryland House Bill 672, legislation aimed at expanding school health services statewide. In addition, Bell worked with Young People for Progress to advocate for MCPS funding priorities and restorative justice programs.
His work across research, policy and community engagement reflects a strong commitment to improving health outcomes and expanding opportunities for others.
Earlier this year, Bell participated in an international youth diplomacy trip to China as part of an MCPS pickleball ambassador program, helping foster connections between students from both countries through athletics and cultural exchange.
“Focus on your authentic self, what is meant for you, will find you,” Bell shared as his yearbook quote.
Ronny Picardo, Northwest High School
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Picardo plans to attend the University of Maryland, College Park, where he will major in aerospace engineering as part of the Honors College.
Picardo earned an associate’s degree in general engineering from Montgomery College while completing high school. This spring, Picardo received Montgomery College’s Prometheus Award for Strength of Character in Engineering. He also earned first place in the undergraduate category at the District of Columbia Council of Engineering and Architectural Societies annual engineering paper competition for his paper titled “Jet Aircraft Performance Modeling.”
His passion for aviation began at a very young age and originally inspired dreams of becoming a commercial pilot. That interest evolved in eighth grade after he joined the Science, Mathematics, Computer Science (SMCS) magnet program at Roberto Clemente Middle School, where he was introduced to engineering and the design behind aircraft and aerospace systems.
“My interest shifted from the operation of aircraft to their construction and development,” Picardo said. “Aerospace engineering was the field that naturally lent itself to that passion.”
In addition to being named a 2026 Cooke College Scholar, Picardo is also a member of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholars Program, having joined the organization as part of its 2021 cohort.
“I’m really excited for next year, and can’t wait to see what I can create and fly at UMD,” he said.
Read the original article at mcps