June 09, 2010

News Release

Memorial Scholarship Makes College a Reality for TISD Student

John Tyler Senior, Hugo Araujo, was awarded the James Richard Carns Memorial Scholarship recently at John Tyler High School.  Araujo, will be attending Lincoln Technical Institute, in Grand Prairie, Texas, beginning this summer to pursue certification in mechanical engineering with a specialization in diesel automobiles. He is the first person in his family to graduate high school and attend college. Hugo was involved in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) at John Tyler and attributes his academic success to that program.

The scholarship was endowed by Rick Carns, along with his siblings, Ross Carns and Rebecca Pitts to honor their father James Richard Carns.

“The James Richard Carns Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the life and memory of a strong, smart, creative, loving, and caring man. One of James’ closest friends described him quite precisely by saying that his zeal for life and sheer determination to excel were a motivation to always give his best in the tasks laid out for him.  We have established the memorial scholarship in hopes that his legacy will encourage young people to follow their dreams, work hard and be determined to excel in their chosen career path,” said his daughter, Rebecca Pitts.

James Richard Carns grew up in Tyler, Texas attending James S. Hogg Middle School and graduating from Tyler High in 1958.  After working several years as a market manager with Brookshire Grocery Company, he graduated from East Texas State University in 1970.  Continuing his interest in vocational training, he worked as an instructor in the meat cutting program at the Texas State Technical Institute in Waco, Texas.  James was always looking for new and interesting business opportunities.  He owned his own grocery store and later returned to school to graduate from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Services in 1990.  James was also a talented craftsman who began a woodworking business in 2005.

The James Richard Carns Memorial Scholarship is an annual scholarship and will be awarded each spring to a Tyler ISD senior pursuing continuing education in a vocational field.

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