Sewell takes next steps with prestigious scholarship in hand

The latest awardee of the esteemed Jack Kent Cooke scholarship has completed a full-circle journey.

By Asher Miles, Staff Writer

Hailing from Chicago’s west side, Cecily Sewell’s unwavering tenacity has propelled her through a 20-year journey at Valley College, culminating in the prestigious achievement of the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Despite being the scholarship recipient, she was informed of the news last.

Faculty, friends and family collectively organized a celebration at Valley for Sewell to bask in the glory of her academic achievements. On a Thursday afternoon in May, the unsuspecting 36-year-old mother was ushered to the multi-purpose room to meet with Elliot Coney, the Umoja Black Scholars counselor and coordinator.

“It was one of the best moments I’ve ever had,” reflected Sewell. “To know that I was supported on that level…it was truly awesome.”

As the soon-to-be-awarded Sewell opened the door, streamers popped alongside friends, family and colleagues wailing their congratulations. A look of bewilderment, and then, sudden understanding washed over Sewell’s face. She gazed up through tawny-colored sisterlocks, poised to receive her coveted scholarship.

After enduring four months of rigorous interviews and applications reviews, the native of Chicago’s 13th and Pulaski beat out 1,500 other applicants to be one of the 80 to secure the highly coveted scholarship. As a Cooke Scholar, the Umoja and EOPS sponsored Monarch has scored generous financial support, ongoing advising, college planning support and the opportunity to partner and connect with fellow Cooke Scholars.

“Cecily, you have been selected as one of the 60 students in the country to receive this prestigious scholarship,” Valley President Barry Gribbons told an all-but-sobbing Sewell. “From a nationwide poll of 1,700 applicants coupled with your leadership and academic achievements, I am proud to announce you as a 2023 Cooke Scholar.”

However, 20 years ago when Sewell instituted herself at Valley, becoming a Cooke Scholar seemed like a far-off reality.

“My teenage and young adult years were the opposite of my childhood and they overshadowed the happiness from my youth,” the scholar admitted. “I was homeless for years, I dropped out of four [high]schools, and I had to get my GED. That’s how I ended up at Valley my first time.”

As she pursued her screenwriting degree in the Media Arts department, she often brought her younger sister, Xoey, along to class. Eventually, Sewell, who was 16 at the time found herself on academic probation with a 0.6 GPA. While she found work as an operation manager, she knew that her journey at Valley could not culminate to only that.

The Columbia-bound scholar removed herself from academic probation, elevated her GPA to a 3.9 and set her sights on finishing her degree. However, she credits a helping hand from the Valley community with some of the success of her journey.

“When I met her I knew she would be a great fit for the scholarship because of her accomplishments,” said Umoja Coordinator Elliot Coney. “With the cooperation of students who have received the award previously, and other counselors, we were able to assist her in essays and collectively went over her statements.”

Looking back at her journey, the “Cookie” scholar is finally able to exalt in the alleviation of academic finances, and bask in the felicity of a two decade chapter coming to a jubilant denouement.

“I’m going to an Ivy League school with a full ride,” said the scholarship winner. “It allows me a certain type of peace. I finally get to tell the 15-year-old version of myself that we did it.”