The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation in Lansdowne, Virginia, has announced its 2014 class of College Scholars.

Each of the eighty-six recipients will receive financial support of up to $30,000 a year for four years of college, as well as mentoring, funding to pursue summer internship opportunities, and academic and social support services. This year's recipients come from families with an average annual income of $35,000 and boast an average high school GPA of 3.9, excellent standardized test scores, and strong teacher recommendations. With an acceptance rate of 1.6 percent, the Cooke Foundation College Scholars program is considered one of the most competitive and generous scholarship programs in the country.

Forty-six of this year's recipients currently participate in the foundation’s Young Scholars Program, while the remaining forty were selected from an external pool of applicants from across the country. Nearly all applied to highly selective schools, and many have received early admission notices.

"The extraordinary caliber of applicants made the selection process tough," said Cooke Foundation vice president of programs Emily Froimson. "However, the final eighty-six embody what we seek in Jack Kent Cooke Scholars: academically accomplished students who have demonstrated persistence, determination, a love for learning, and desire to help others."

For a complete list of 2014 Cooke scholarship recipients, visit the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Web site.