Siddhartha Das led a community service project with Tiger Rock Martial Arts in Cary collecting toys, books and games for the Duke Children’s Center in Durham.

Siddhartha is a fifth grader at Washington Elementary School and a third degree black belt.

The Tiger Rock Team collected over 100 donation items for the Duke Children’s Center.

Cary resident earns Benjamin N. Duke Memorial Scholarship

Suqi Huang was one of fourteen incoming first-year students awarded the Benjamin N. Duke Memorial Scholarship, which covers full tuition, room, board and mandatory fees for eight semesters, at Duke University.

The scholarship also includes service and leadership development activities and two summer programs, one in the Carolinas and one abroad, during the recipients’ undergraduate careers.

Huang is a graduate of the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics and the daughter of Xiujuan Su and Shaoxing Huang.

Local students win scholarships to study in Russia

Lukas Lyon of Apex and Kira Wegner-Clemens of Cary have been awarded National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarships. The NSLI-Y program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learn less commonly-taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.

Both students will study Russian in Russia over the summer.

The scholarship will cover all program costs for participants including domestic and international travel; tuition and related academic preparation; language testing; educational and cultural activities focused on language learning; orientations; meals; and accommodations, commonly with a host family.

Holly Springs Food Cupboard announces raffles winners

The Holly Springs Food Cupboard’s Board of Directors met with Mayor Dick Sears to draw the winning raffle tickets on May 5 for the food cupboard’s second annual raffle fundraiser.

The winners are Bill Peterson, first prize of $1,000; Will Hinkston, second prize of $500; and Art Marasco, third prize of $250.

Local students and employees awarded scholarships by McDonald’s

Thirty-four students Triangle-area students have been awarded $1,000 scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina and local McDonald’s owner/operators for outstanding academic achievement and community involvement.

RMHC scholarship recipients were chosen based on their leadership skills, academic success, community involvement, financial need and a personal essay describing how they intend to make a difference in society.

RMHC scholars from Cary include America Morales, Alia Capone and Caleb Gallentine.

In addition to the RMHC Scholars, 19 local McDonald’s employees were awarded with $1,000 Ray Kroc Youth Achievement Award Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to McDonald’s employees who are furthering their secondary education and have made significant contributions to their communities and achieved academic success.

Ray Kroc Scholarship recipients in southwest Wake County include Gena Cotton and Allison Newby of Holly Springs; and La’Reyce Troyano of Fuquay-Varina.

Compiled by staff writer Michelle Ferencak