The University of Puget Sound is proud to announce incoming students Coco Brandabur of Portland, Oregon, and Princess Akpotu of Delta, Nigeria, as the two newest recipients of the prestigious Matelich Scholarship for the Class of 2029.
The Matelich Scholarship, established by George E. Matelich ’78 and Susan E. Matelich, is awarded to exceptional students who embody the university's commitment to academic excellence, inspirational leadership, and community engagement. Among our most prestigious scholarships, it covers tuition, fees, and room and board for up to four years at Puget Sound.
Brandabur and Akpotu are part of a cohort of 29 Matelich Scholars named since the program began awarding scholarships in 2012.
Coco Brandabur ’29 (She/Her) | Portland, OR
Coco Brandabur ’29 is a graduate of Northwest Academy, where she achieved a 3.93 GPA. Her academic interests are as diverse as her extracurricular pursuits, spanning pre-medicine and studio art. She is eager to explore the Pacific Northwest with Puget Sound Outdoors.
Brandabur has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a profound commitment to service. She served as the president of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, a youth-led organization, and works as a lifeguard. Her initiative and desire to build inclusive communities are further shown as a founding member of her school’s American Sign Language (ASL) Club. She exemplifies what it means to be a Logger by balancing challenging academics with life-saving community service.
Princess Akpotu ’29 (She/Her) | Delta, Nigeria
Princess Akpotu ’29 is an international student from Nigeria and an academic standout with a 3.99 GPA from Nigerian Tulip International Colleges. Her passions bridge the fields of computer science and studio art.
Akpotu’s achievements include serving as assistant head girl of her school, leading fundraisers, and conducting educational workshops on mathematics and personal hygiene. In addition to being a medalist on the Olympiad Mathematics team, she also expresses her creativity as a cartoonist. Before enrolling, Akpotu took a gap year to broaden her skills, interning at a local bookstore and taking lessons in French and coding.
She is a motivated scholar and artist who will bring a global perspective and a drive for interdisciplinary excellence to the Puget Sound community.
About the Matelich Scholars Program
The Matelich Scholars Program, established in 2010, is designed to provide future generations of students with the opportunity to pursue life-changing education at Puget Sound. Both George E. Matelich ’78 and Susan E. Matelich were the first members of their families to graduate from a four-year college. George is a senior advisory partner of Kelso & Company, Vice Chair of the Board of American Prairie, a past member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council, and a trustee emeritus at University of Puget Sound. Susan currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of American Prairie and is secretary of the Board of the New York Botanical Garden Board of Trustees. Two Matelich Scholars are selected each year from the incoming first-year class.
For information about the Matelich Scholars Program eligibility, please contact the Office of Admission at 253.879.3211 or visit pugetsound.edu.
