The Cognella Cares Student Scholarship Program Rewards Three Students with $1,000 Scholarships
(From left) Danita Barigye, Diyora Zokirjon qizi Daminova, and Christina Jones
Cognella Academic Publishing recognizes three students for writing personal essays on timely topics
San Diego, CA – June 15, 2026 – Cognella Academic Publishing has selected the Spring 2026 winners of the Cognella Cares Student Scholarship Program: Danita Barigye of Syracuse University, Diyora Zokirjon qizi Daminova of the University of Colorado Boulder, and Christina Jones of Ferris State University.
The annual scholarship program was established in 2018 and provides students with a platform to speak on current issues that affect them, highlight experiences that are unique to higher education, and share ideas that can inspire social, political, and intellectual change.
This year, Cognella asked students to submit personal essays on the topics of college during conflict; speech, silence, and self-censorship; and the emotional labor of being a student today. The judging panel selected one winning essay per topic, and Cognella has awarded each student a $1,000 academic scholarship.
“This year’s scholarship recipients embody a powerful blend of intellectual curiosity, resilience, and purpose,” said Bassim Hamadeh, Cognella Founder and CEO. “Their work reflects not only academic excellence, but also a deep commitment to addressing real-world challenges. We’re proud to support these students as they continue to pursue their goals and contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.”
Danita Barigye’s essay on college during conflict reflects on her experience as an international student navigating exclusion, conditional belonging, and the emotional weight of immigration policies despite her deep investment in her education and future. It calls for universities and society to move beyond superficial inclusion by addressing systemic barriers and reshaping narratives, while ultimately holding onto hope as an act of resilience.
In her essay on speech, silence, and self-censorship, Diyora Zokirjon qizi Daminova speaks to her lifelong experience with silence—both as a tool for survival shaped by cultural and educational environments and as a barrier that can limit expression and belonging. It ultimately argues that true courage lies in balancing silence and speech, using one’s voice intentionally to challenge exclusion, foster dialogue, and create space for others to be heard.
Christina Jones’ essay on the emotional labor of being a student reflects her experience balancing motherhood and higher education, highlighting the physical, emotional, and institutional challenges she faced while advocating for better support for student parents. It argues that resilience sometimes means adjusting one’s path responsibly and calls for more flexible, compassionate policies that recognize and support the diverse realities of modern students.
Read the award-winning essays: https://cognella.com/company-hosted-awards/student-scholarship-program/
About Cognella®
Cognella® is redefining academic publishing by creating teacher-driven, student-centric higher education course materials in print and digital formats under three imprints: Cognella® Academic Publishing, Cognella® Custom, and Cognella® Active Learning. Cognella also publishes engaging nonfiction titles featuring modern perspectives as Cognella® Press. Learn more at www.cognella.com.
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