Oldham Awarded Jack Kent Cooke Grad Scholarship

Thomas Oldham, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2004 Honors Program graduate from Hastings, has been awarded a 2004 Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship. This nationally competitive scholarship is awarded to exceptional students who would like to attend graduate school but have financial need.

Oldham, who will receive an annual award of up to $50,000 for the length of his graduate program in dramaturgy/script development at Columbia University's School of the Arts in New York City, was one of 39 recipients of the largest scholarship offered by any private foundation to individuals seeking graduate or professional degrees. The recipients were chosen from 1,226 nominees submitted by 747 colleges.

"We developed this program to offer outstanding individuals the financial freedom to pursue their highest calling through advanced education," said Matthew J. Quinn, the foundation's executive director and a former college president. "In this group, we have found 39 of the finest students in America and we expect they will make tremendous contributions to their professions and communities."

An English major at UNL, Oldham received only a single B as an undergraduate, compiled a 3.96 grade-point average and earned a bachelor of arts degree with highest distinction. He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was inducted into UNL's Innocents honor society. He acted in the university's theatre program, directed a work by his favorite playwright, Tom Stoppard, and mentored freshmen.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 2000 by the estate of Jack Kent Cooke to help young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education.

CONTACT: Patrice Berger, Director, Honors Program, (402) 472-5425