Riley Toher, Zakaria Cherif and Maya Li Pearl Giddings, seniors at Lake Washington High School, were the recipients of the 2012 Lily Waluconis Memorial Scholarship for exceptional academic achievement and commitment to social justice.

Maya Li Pearl Giddings received the top award of $2,000 and will be attending Oregon State University in the fall where she hopes to pursue a degree in renewable materials and forestry. Maya, who volunteers with the city’s Green Kirkland Partnership, hopes she can help shape “a more efficient and greener world for future generations.”

Receiving an award of $1,000, Riley Toher distinguished herself as a top scholar and committed volunteer for the Special Olympics, Tent City and environmental youth groups. She stated that her various volunteer activities “led me into my role towards a just community.” Riley will be attending Whitman College.

Zakaria Cherif was awarded $500 and will attend Washington State University this fall. He was this year’s ASB president and was active in food drives and numerous other activities. About social justice he wrote, “I firmly believe that a community cannot be considered ‘just’ without equality, so I make sure to spread and endorse equality each day of my life.”

Sarah Krause, who will also attend WSU, received an award for $500 because of her outstanding volunteer service.

“It is a pleasure to acknowledge the academic achievements of these three exceptional LWHS scholars,” said Gabe Waluconis, a trustee of the scholarship fund. “This memorial scholarship honors my sister, Lily Waluconis, who graduated at the top of her class from Lake Washington High School in 2002. She went on to win a scholarship from Carleton College and was about to graduate at the top of her college class when she passed away in 2006, receiving her Bachelor’s degree posthumously.”