When Cati Hoyt graduates from Liberty High School next month, she’ll take with her four years of memories and $1,000 in scholarships. Nikole Radford will do the same, using her $750 to close the gap on tuition to San Francisco State in the fall.

For these Liberty High students, their college educations are looking brighter – and more financially secure – thanks in large part to the Liberty High School Local Scholarship Awards Program.

“This is just one of the great ways the community supports its own students,” said Kelly Perkins, Liberty High School college and career counselor. “It’s a wonderful way to see our kids rewarded for their hard work. Without the money, many of them might not be able to afford college.”

This year the program awarded more than $190,000 in scholarships to Liberty High students; the largest total since the program’s inception nearly 25 years ago. Funded and supported by local businesses, individuals and families, the Liberty scholarship program is unique in its commitment to the community and its support of its students.

According to scholarship sponsor Ike Montanez, “The bottom line is that we do this because we want our kids to follow up on their educations, but also to encourage them to come back to the community if at all possible. I want our students to know the community is behind them and that we support them.”

Radford is aware of the community’s support, and grateful for the opportunity the scholarships afford. “It’s amazing,” said Radford, who plans to major in biology at SFSU with an eye toward medical school. “With the amount of grants and funding I was able to get through San Francisco and the Liberty scholarships, my out-of-pocket tuition for next year will be $50. I could never have done it without their help.”

And that, said Perkins, is what makes the program so special: “I always tell the kids that they need to fill out just one application, and that by doing that they’re putting their name in the hat for over 100 scholarships in our local program. This is all made possible by local farmers, businesses and service organizations as well as individuals. It shows that Brentwood still has that small-town feeling that makes it such a wonderful place to live.”

For more information on the program, call Kelly Perkins at 925-634-3521, ext. 5217.

List of 2012 Liberty scholarships and awards

John Allen Hancock Memorial Wrestling

Elin Ovick Memorial Scholarship

Jacqualine Nebergall Memorial Scholarship

William B. Bristow Scholarship

Isaac Montanez Family Scholarship

Jerry Liley Memorial Scholarship

LHS Athletic Boosters Scholarship Award

Merse DeVera Memorial Sorts Scholarships

Byron Union Teacher’s Association

Discovery Bay Lions Club Scholarships

Brentwood Kiwanis Scholarship

Brentwood Kiwanis Bell Game Scholarships

Olney Family Scholarship

Ernie M. Borbon Memorial Scholarship

Brentwood Rotary Club Scholarships

Brentwood Lions Club Charley Weeks Ag Award

Dr. Sloan N. McDonald & Dr. Roberto J. Delos Scholarship

Brentwood Art Society Scholarship

Knightsen Community Scholarships

Knightsen Parent-Teacher Club Scholarship

Dennis Main Memorial Scholarship

Broadway Under The Stars

Dental Parents Association of Dainty Center & Willow Wood School

Delta Realtors Association Scholarship

Brentwood Women’s Nine Tee’s Scholarship

Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Scholarship

Brentwood Press Scholarship

Brentwood Youth Commission Scholarship

Stuart Music Scholarship

Valentine Family Autism Project

Tyler Toal Memorial Scholarship

Alecia Lamport Memorial Scholarship

Todd Anthony Perea Film & Digital Media Scholarship

Blachman Decker Family Scholarship

LHS Wrestling Scholarship

Delta Wresting Scholarship

LHS Yearbook Scholarship

LHS Rally Squad Scholarship

LHS Dance Team Scholarship

LHS Key Club Scholarship

LHS Latinos Unidos Club Scholarship

LHS Future Educators of America (FEA) Scholarship

LHS Associated Students’ Leadership Award Scholarship

LHS Science and Technology Scholarships

LHS Parents Club Scholarship

National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarships

California Scholarship foundation (CSF) Scholarships

CSEA Liberty Chapter 238 Scholarship

LEA Liberty Education Association Scholarship

Brentwood Elementary Parents’ Club Scholarship

Garin School Alumni & PTA Scholarship

Discovery Bay Elementary PTA Scholarship

Excelsior School P.T.S.A. Scholarship

John, Evelyn & Tiny Bettencourt Ag Scholarship

Sandra Crawford Early Childhood Education

Delta Advocacy Foundation Scholarship

Rainbow Scholarship

Frank M. Stonebarger Scholar-Athlete Scholarship

Anthony Ghiozzi Memorial scholarship

Simoni & Massoni Family Scholarship

Ton Milan Memorial Scholarship

Herb Scott Memorial Scholarship

Mildred Ballard Memorial scholarship

Catherine Faulkner Palmer Scholarship

Brentwood Men’s Club Scholarship

Ted Ohmstede Sports Scholarships

Olga M. Ghilarducci Memorial Scholarship

Oakley Women’s club Scholarship

Laura Bettencourt Memorial Scholarship

ROP Scholarship

E.A.P. Business Scholarship

M.A.P. Service Award Scholarship

Graves Brothers’ Memorial Scholarship

Darren R. Hansen Memorial Scholarship

Ivy Richardson Scholarships

Kane C. Thompson Memorial Scholarship

Dr. Val Tompkins & Friends Scholarship

Brentwood Lions Club Pat Callaghan Science Award

East Diablo Youth Soccer League (EDYSL) Scholarships

Brentwood Dentistry Group Scholarship

Kayla Shepard Memorial Scholarship

Advanced Placement (AP) Student Achievement Awards

LUHSD Memorial Fund Scholarship

College & Career Center Scholarship

Cash for College Scholarship

Perkins Family Scholarship

LHS Scholarship Committee Scholarships:

Class of 1971, ’76, ’78, ’86, ’89, ’93, ’91, ’94, 2002, ’06, ’07, ’10 and ’12

Edward & Elizabeth Conner Foundation Scholarship