Bryan Rowland graduated with an Associate in Arts degree from Santa Fe College this spring. He was already driving to the state of Washington to work as a firefighter over the summer when the call came: he’ll now receive up to $55,000 to pay his way through UF.
Santa Fe College announced Tuesday that Rowland is one of 90 community college students to win the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.
After serving as a U.S. Army paratrooper, Rowland found his passion battling forest fires out west. He landed in Gainesville with two duffel bags after friends encouraged him to attend Santa Fe College.
With the Cooke Scholarship, Rowland will attend UF to study Forest Resources and Conservation with a specialty in Wildfire Management.
“I was so excited. I was laughing and crying,” Rowland said, recalling when he heard he won the scholarship. “I know this is a life-changing opportunity and I am going to do everything I can to take advantage of it.”
The scholarship pays last-dollar funding after all institutional aid, up to $55,000, aiming to help students graduate with as little debt as possible.
In a Santa Fe College press release, Rowland said he wants to reach incident command positions in forest fire response while also broadening into the education of forestry management. He also plans to attend Yale University, home of the first forestry program in the U.S., for a master’s degree.
Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie II said Rowland’s story displays determination, resilience and an unstoppable mindset.
“He embedded himself into the institution, engaged with our Veterans, served as a Student Ambassador, positioned himself as a leader across the college, and he excelled academically,” Broadie said. “He is truly deserving of this prestigious scholarship, and our institution is enriched because he chose to come to Santa Fe.”
According to Santa Fe College, the 2025 cohort is one of the largest in the Cooke Foundation’s 25-year history. The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship aims to fill the gap between the nearly 80% of community college students who hope to earn a bachelor’s degree and the 16% who actually reach that goal within six years.
“This year’s cohort reflects the remarkable talent and determination thriving in community colleges nationwide,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “As we mark 25 years of impact, we remain committed to amplifying the successes of these students and opening doors to the opportunities they deserve.”