NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Essex County College. Send all releases and news tips for Essex and Hudson counties to Eric.Kiefer@patch.com. Don't forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page here.

Essex County College's Pride Day 2017 was a day that Newark resident Esdras Malbranche said he will never forget. With fellow students listening against a backdrop of balloons and colorful display tables set up on the College Plaza, Esdras learned from Acting President A. Zachary Yamba that he was a recipient of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Transfer Scholarship. The Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is the largest private scholarship in the nation for students transferring from two-year community colleges to four-year institutions that award bachelor's degrees. The award is worth $120,000, or $40,000 a year for up to three years, at a four-year institution.

"I have literally no words to say right now," said Esdras, who serves as Student Government Association (SGA) president. "I have to call my mother in Haiti to tell her this wonderful news," added the Business Administration major.

Esdras is the 15th Essex County College student to earn the award since 2006. The college has had more Cooke scholarships than any other community college in New Jersey. Yamba noted that Esdras had told him he was very concerned about the cost of transferring to a four-year college.

"But now I can tell everyone that his prayers have been answered," added Yamba.

"I came to Essex with a dream, I worked hard, I applied for this scholarship and God has helped me get here," said Esdras, who has a 3.9 grade point average and is part of the college's Honors Program. "There are also so many people who have helped me on this journey."

In addition to Yamba, Esdras was able to share the moment with Honors Program Director Ladylease White and Assistant Professor Jean-Wilner Alexandre, who is Assistant Director of the Honors Program. Esdras will graduate with his Associate degree in May and plans to major in Economics upon transfer.