Antelope Valley College student Kaylie Brehm has been named a 2025 Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholar, one of just 90 students selected nationwide from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants to receive the prestigious and highly competitive scholarship. 

The award, which provides funds for tuition, living expenses, and educational support, will fund Brehm’s transfer to UC Berkeley this fall, where she plans to study chemical biology with a potential minor in chemical engineering. 

“It felt like someone was recognizing what I’m doing,” Brehm said. “It felt like everything was worth it. I talked to some of the other finalists, and they are inspiring people and I’m so excited to meet them and have these connections.” 

The announcement of her scholarship came as a surprise during the Honors Convocation, where Brehm looked out at the crowd and saw her mother, students she tutored, coworkers, and professors and was overjoyed to share that moment with them. 

“We are so proud of Kaylie and her accomplishments. Her dedication and commitment to excellence is evident in the awarding of this prestigious scholarship,” said AVC President/Superintendent Jennifer Zellet. “I am certain that whatever path she chooses she will be a success and an asset to her community.” 

Brehm’s path to one of the nation’s top scholarships began with an entirely different goal. After helping care for her grandmother, she felt drawn to healthcare and started AVC as a nursing major. However, while fulfilling prerequisites, she discovered a deeper interest in chemistry and microbiology. 

She transitioned to a pre-med biology track and began volunteering in the emergency department at the local hospital. Though meaningful, the subject matter didn’t feel like the right long-term fit. The chemistry classes she was taking sparked her interest, leading her to begin tutoring other students and working as a lab assistant in the college’s chemistry department. 

It was through tutoring that she discovered undergraduate research and eventually became co-chair of the student research program. Under her leadership, students conducted mock experiments, explored scientific journals, and even partnered with local vector control to track and trap invasive mosquito species. 

She also served as vice president of the STEM Club and a peer advisor for the MESA program, roles that emphasized inclusion and academic engagement among STEM students. Her dedication earned her the General Chemistry Subject Area Award at the college’s convocation. 

Brehm said applying for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship felt like a long shot and initially didn’t finish the application. When she received an email saying the deadline was extended, she took it as a sign to complete it. 

Now, as she prepares to attend UC Berkeley, Brehm is eager to continue her academic journey and pursue pharmaceutical research. She ultimately plans to earn a Ph.D.