Middlesex College Vice President Jose Laureano, Nima Sedghi, Middlesex College President Mark McCormick

(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ) -- Piscataway's Nima Sedghi, a chemistry major at Middlesex College, was one of just 60 community college students nationwide to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which provides recipients up to $55,000 a year to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities. Sedghi was also the Class of 2024's salutatorian.

Born and raised in Iran, Sedghi moved to the U.S. in 2021 with aspirations of becoming a doctor. He enrolled at Middlesex College in fall 2022 while working full time at Amazon.

He credits his sister with giving him a roadmap for success, having immigrated to the U.S. herself a decade earlier. Her educational accomplishments provided a roadmap for his own American dream, he says.

“She was a role model for me. When she came here 10 years ago, she was all alone with no one to support her. She got her master’s degree and started working. I saw from her accomplishments that in the U.S., if you really try, have persistence and perseverance, you will be successful,” Nima Sedghi said.

“The entire Middlesex College community celebrates Nima for his remarkable achievement. His story – immigrating to the United States during a global pandemic, getting involved in clubs and organizations, excelling academically, all while working full time to support his education – is a testament to the strength of character of our students. I congratulate Nima’s tremendous accomplishment and applaud his determination,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick.

The “life-changing” scholarship will have far-reaching impacts beyond covering tuition and fees, Sedghi says. Although he was able to serve as president of the biology society on campus and volunteered at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, financial pressures made it impossible for him to just focus on his college studies.

Sedghi has had to work full time at Amazon, where he works 10-hour shifts, while studying full time at Middlesex College.

Going forward, he says the Cooke scholarship will allow him to participate in research opportunities and have hands-on clinical experiences. And while he has yet to finalize his post-graduation plans, he has already been accepted to Columbia University.

“My life’s ambition is to become a doctor and serve those in need. To realize this dream, I plan to continue my undergraduate education to obtain my bachelor’s degree and then apply to medical school.”

Middlesex College, established in 1964, is a public, two-year institution of higher education located in the heart of New Jersey. With a main campus in Edison and centers in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy, Middlesex College offers over 85 degree and certificate programs encouraging its more than 10,000 students to explore, grow, and thrive. Middlesex College, through dedicated faculty, state-of-the-art educational facilities, and holistic student supports, is committed to providing a high-quality, affordable college education that provides every student an opportunity for growth and achievement. Middlesex College is Middlesex County’s premier destination for lifelong learning and workforce training.