Susan Danko, Vice President of Human Resources for Fujitsu and an Excellence in Education Foundation Board Member, welcomed the scholarship students and family members along with scholarship donors, Board of Trustees members, Superintendent Dr. Kay Waggoner, administrators and principals of RISD's four high schools.

The A.M. Anderson Scholarship was established to honor Mr. Anderson, the first principal of Lake Highlands High School. A student must be a member in good standing of the A.M. Anderson Chapter of the National Honor Society of Lake Highlands High School. A scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is awarded this year to London Paige Dority.

The Dr. Carolyn G. Bukhair Scholarship is given in honor of Dr. Carolyn Bukhair who served as superintendent of RISD for many years. During her time as superintendent, she was instrumental in bringing the AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) program to Richardson. RISD Excellence in Education Foundation is a supporter of the AVID program throughout the district. 2011 marks the fifth year for a graduating AVID class. Dr. Bukhair's $1,000 scholarship is designated to an outstanding AVID senior. This year's scholarship recipient is Marlene Campos of Richardson High School.

The Blake Pinson English Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Blake to honor a graduating student of the RISD whose stated goal is to study nutrition, food science or the culinary arts. This $1,000 scholarship is presented to: Alexis Maberry of Berkner High School.

The Eagle to Eagle Scholarship honors two outstanding Richardson High School Students who previously attended Spring Creek Elementary School. The two scholarship recipients for 2012 are Jasmine Green and Hannah Patterson.

The Arleen Faulkner Memorial Scholarship was initiated by RISD staff and the family of Arleen Faulkner, a beloved employee of Richardson High School. The scholarship focuses on academic achievement and financial need for college attendance and is to be awarded to a qualifying Richardson High School senior. The scholarship is awarded this year only in memory of Arleen and her invaluable contribution to Richardson High School. The recipient of this very special scholarship is Garda Mahmood.

The Giana Foundation Scholarship for the Visual and Performing Arts is a scholarship fund established to honor graduating seniors whose stated goal is to study visual and/or performing arts. The scholarship is intended to show appreciation of the J.J. Pearce and Richardson High School arts programs, since members of the Foundation themselves benefited from participation in those programs. Scholarships awarded to each of two Pearce graduating seniors and two Richardson High School Seniors who are planning to major in the visual and/or performing arts. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 and plan to attend a 4-year college or university. The recipients of the Giana Foundation Scholarship for the Visual and Performing Arts will each receive $5,000: Pearce High School: Erica Hannah Halpern and Mark W. Rosenzweig. Richardson High School: Jenna Caire and Andrew Johnson-Scott.

The G-Squared Richardson High School Math Challenge Scholarships – Series 2012 are awarded to six qualifying students from Richardson High School. The scholarship focus is math performance and college attendance for those students who have the academic ability to succeed in college but for a variety of reasons may not necessarily consider college as an option in their lives. Each student will receive a $2,000 scholarship, at $500 per semester for two years. The 2012 recipients are: Haris Bubalo, Marlene Campos, Amairani Fajardo, Ana Immerso, Kathy Tran and Queenie Tran.

The Alyssa Little Foundation Scholarship honors a graduating outstanding student of Pearce High School whose stated goal is to attend a 4-year accredited college or university. The inaugural recipient of this memorial scholarship is Julio Pineda.

The Katie Richards Memorial Scholarships are given in memory of Katharine Wiley Richards, a Parkhill Junior High student who died of congenital heart disease at the age of 13 in 1995. Katie was a creative, sweet and wonderful daughter, sister and friend. In honor of Katie, this $1,000 scholarship has been awarded to three outstanding Pearce High School Seniors: Carolyn Ann Croley, Emily Wingate and Darby Knox.

The Thompson Family Scholarship for the Study of Engineering is open to any qualifying graduating senior from any of of the four high schools who intends to major in engineering. The scholarship of $1,000 per year is renewable up to 4 years if the student continues to major in engineering and maintains academic performance. The Thompson Family Scholarship for the Study of Engineering for 2012 is awarded to Hannah Moss of Richardson High School.