Constantly reading and seeking educational opportunities, Pattarapol (Pat) Muepae found a unique transfer scholarship on YouTube, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Pat never thought he would receive this scholarship, as it is highly competitive. Just before graduating SPC with a Chemistry Transfer Pathway and an Associate of Arts degree in May 2025, Pat was pleasantly surprised when he was notified that he would receive this prestigious scholarship. This scholarship provides transfer students up to $55K per year and the opportunity to apply for an Internship Stipend program. Only 90 out of 1,600 applicants (6%) received this generous scholarship, and Pat is the only recipient from Minnesota in 2025.

It has been a rapid upward educational journey for Pat, who moved from Thailand to Saint Paul in March 2023 after his cousin recommended that he pursue his STEM education at SPC. By Fall 2023, Pat had enrolled at SPC, where he began taking EAPP classes to better understand English and the required science classes. He received an SPC Foundation scholarship and an SPC Science Scholarship, among the main supports for pursuing STEM education. This substantial and generous scholarship provides funds, mentorship, professional development opportunities, and networking with SPC STEM professors. Pat says he could not imagine how he would pursue his dream without these scholarships while overcoming the poverty barrier. He is aware that support from the community is crucial to his growth, and he always wants to give something back to the community.

Pat speaks fondly of his time at SPC. At first, he felt isolated, but his advisors helped connect him to other students and support programs, such as ILEAD and TRiO. His EAPP class helped him overcome language barriers and calm his anxieties from cultural differences. Pat describes his experience at SPC as an excellent foundation for learning at a reasonable cost in a low-stakes environment where it was okay to make mistakes and learn from them. He feels joyful when he founded the Saint Paul Soccer Club to play soccer with friends, build community among students, and meet others from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Going forward, Pat wants to focus on molecular genetics and stem cell biology while pursuing an MD-Ph.D. for a physician-scientist career, a unique professional who is a trained medical doctor and a research scientist for advancing knowledge in medicine and breaking boundaries of current treatments. His next step is a summer paid internship in the Beckman lab at the pre-MSTP program at the University of Minnesota Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP). During this internship, Pat looks forward to researching hematology and shadowing physician-scientists.

This incredible journey from Thailand to Saint Paul started when Pat’s parents moved to the US to reunite with their refugee relatives and for better educational opportunities for their children. Pat’s parents are proud of their son’s progress in such a short time. Beyond his academic journey, Pat and his family were excited to see snow for the first time in their first winter in Minnesota! Pat continues to be inspired to learn more from this Nelson Mandela quote:

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”— Nelson Mandela