Jeff Amport ’11 is on his way to medical school.  And the biological sciences major has a good start by graduating with a 4.0 GPA from Illinois State University.

He received a scholarship that inspired him to push himself academically, just like he did in high school.

“When I was awarded the scholarship, I not only felt a sense of gratitude but a stronger, more serious feeling of responsibility to do more with my education,” he said.

He took honors coursework and spent five semesters doing research for his senior thesis, along with reaching out to the community by volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association. He also gained health care experience shadowing physicians at local hospitals.

“These scholarships make such a difference,” he said. “I’ve worked hard in college and that’s partly because scholarships, like the Cook scholarship, have kept me motivated. I don’t know what’s in store for my future, but I know that if I continue to work hard, there’s something good out there for me.”