Jay Cook (’23) Builds a Career Through Community
February 12, 2026 | 2 min read
Jay Cook’s (‘23) connection to Florida College began long before his college years.
“My FC story started at FC Indiana Camp at age nine,” he shared. “I loved being a camper there and just didn’t want that amazing experience to end after my senior year in high school.” When it came time to choose a college, Florida College felt like a natural next step.
Once on campus, that sense of belonging only grew. Through cross country, student leadership, and everyday life in the dorms, he found friendships that would shape his college experience. Although he originally planned to transfer, Cook decided to stay.
“I wanted the four-year FC experience,” he said. “I am so glad I did.”
Cook graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration. Staying all four years allowed him to build deeper relationships within the Florida College community and throughout the Tampa Bay area. It also gave him the opportunity to be part of a strong, local congregation, further grounding him spiritually during an important season of growth.
Those relationships would later shape his professional path as well.
“Florida College also gave me the connections that directly led to my current role,” Cook explained.
Through the encouragement and guidance of fellow alumni, he was introduced to opportunities that helped launch his career. He now works as a Commercial Credit Analyst at DFCU Financial, a role that places him alongside several Florida College alumni and has allowed him, in turn, to help other recent FC graduates find opportunities there as well.
In just over a year, Cook has underwritten millions of dollars in new loans and reviewed a substantial portfolio, but what stands out most is his enthusiasm for the work.
“There’s never been a day in which I wasn’t looking forward to going into work,” he said.
For Cook, Florida College’s impact reaches far beyond academics or professional success. He described FC as a place where students are reminded they are not alone.
“We remind each other at a key developmental stage in life that we are not alone in our spiritual journey,” he said. “I was taught by the examples of my peers how to live like Jesus, even when we fall short.”
Cook’s sense of community from Florida College has stayed with him, shaping how he builds relationships in his career and beyond. Today, he remains connected to Florida College as the Vice President of Networking for the FC Young Alumni Council and by serving as an assistant coach for the cross country team, continuing the cycle of investment that first drew him in years ago.