Three Austin eighth grade students have been awarded $5,000 college scholarships to help them fulfill their dreams of the future.

The Seedling Foundation recently announced the winner of the 2011 Seedling College Scholarship, sponsored by the Austin employees of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Raneesha Joiner, a student at Webb Middle School, was selected by the Cadence employees as their beneficiary.

Winners of two additional Seedling College Scholarships, sponsored by the Rourke Family, are Adrian Davila of Bedichek Middle School, and Di'Amante' Estes of Kealing Middle School.

These scholarships may be used at a two-year or four-year college or university of the student's choosing.

At the Seedling Foundation Mentor Appreciation Event on May 26 at the Delco Activity Center, the Webb Middle School students who won the very first Seedling College Scholarships in 2007 received their awards. They are graduating from high school and beginning college this fall. Ms. A'shanta Carroll will attend Austin Community College, and Ms. Zaira Ruth Garcia will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Kali´ P. Rourke is President of the Seedling Foundation Board. She and her husband Dan established the Seedling College Scholarships in 2007 to assist students who are involved in the foundation's programs in reaching their educational goals.

The Seedling Foundation supports public schools by building community. In addition to a mentoring program which serves more than 350 children, it also improves campus facilities through landscaping and beautification initiatives. The foundation was established in 1998 as the Travis Community Education Foundation and was renamed the Seedling Foundation in 2007.

Austin attorney and philanthropist John C. Blazier is the founder and Chairman of the Board of the Seedling Foundation.

"The Seedling College Scholarships will give these young students a vote of confidence as they complete eighth grade and begin high school. Knowing that someone believes in you and knows you have the potential to be whatever you want to be, as long as you are willing to work hard, is greatly motivating," Sari Waxler, Executive Director of the Seedling Foundation, said.

For more information, contact Sari Waxler at 323-6371.