A Dell Scholars Award is one of the most prestigious awards a college-bound senior can win. Only 300 students are selected for the honor each year, and each one of those students will receive a $20,000 scholarship to help pay for the first year of college. Richardson ISD leads the nation with seven Dell Scholars.
The seven Dell Scholars hail from three different RISD high schools and one is from Lake Highlands High School:
- Alesha Cooper - Richardson High School
- Stephanie Eyocko - Lake Highlands High School
- Christopher Hendrix - Berkner High School
- Muneerah Jemal - Richardson High School
- Sha'Huni Robinson - Richardson High School
- Tangela Seals - Berkner High School
- Ai-My Tran - Berkner High School
The recipients of the Dell Scholars Award are selected based upon the individual's determination to succeed; their future goals and plans to achieve them; their ability to communicate the hardships they've encountered and surpassed; their self-motivation in completing challenging coursework; and their need for financial aid. Finally all recipients must be enrolled in a college readiness/college access program - all seven RISD winners are in the AVID program.
"We're preparing our students to succeed in life," said Carmen Steward, RISD's AVID director. "We set high expectations, and we support them academically and socially. Most of all, we believe in them."