Lexington County graduate Chien-Hsiang Huang is being rewarded for his scholastic achievements.

The Duke University graduate student will receive the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholarship.

The Cooke Foundation will award approximately $7 million total to 82 students who have recently begun graduate programs at some of the most highly selective institutions in the US and the UK.

Each of the Cooke Graduate Scholarship recipients will be eligible to receive up to $75,000 total for up to 4 years.

With average tuition topping more than $40,000 for private colleges and universities, graduate school is often beyond the economic reach of students with financial need.

However, research suggests that graduate school can fuel profound increases in lifetime earnings, in relation to graduates that obtain a college degree alone.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need.

Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $190 million in scholarships to nearly 2,500 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services.

The Foundation has also provided over $100 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. Visit www.jkcf.org for more information.