Three Katy ISD Graduates Receive Surprise Scholarships from KPRC 2 and American Furniture Warehouse
Three graduating seniors from Katy Independent School District were selected as recipients of the 2025 KPRC 2 Senior Scholarship, a sponsored initiative supported by American Furniture Warehouse that recognizes students across Greater Houston for their academic efforts and community engagement.
Johnaton Haywood (Mayde Creek High School), Tanisha Parikh (Katy High School), and Mariana Rondon (Jordan High School) were among 20 total recipients chosen from thousands of nominations across the region. Each student was awarded $2,500 in a surprise presentation attended by classmates, teachers, and family members.
The scholarship program, now in its 11th year, is a collaborative promotional effort between KPRC 2 and American Furniture Warehouse.
Students Recognized for a Range of Accomplishments
Recipients were selected based on a combination of academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and volunteer service. According to KPRC, applicants’ personal stories played a key role in the selection process.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
One of this year’s awardees, Jordan High School graduate Mariana Rondon, was presented with the program’s 21st and final scholarship shortly after graduation. This “bonus” scholarship is traditionally given to a recent graduate who stood out in a particularly compelling way.
A Notable Showing for Katy ISD
This marks the fourth straight year a student from Katy High School has been recognized by the scholarship program. Katy ISD officials acknowledged the achievement of this year’s group, with Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership & Support Ronnie Edwards noting, “There are many deserving students across the Houston area, and it’s a testament to Katy ISD to have three recipients this year.”
Regional Spotlight with Local Ties
While the KPRC 2 Senior Scholarship provides meaningful support to students, it also offers an opportunity for the station to spotlight positive community stories. The surprise presentations are filmed and shared on-air and online, giving families, schools, and local audiences a chance to celebrate student achievement together.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
Since its inception, the program has distributed over $550,000 in scholarship funds to Houston-area seniors.
These scholarships celebrate not just academic achievement, but the character, hard work, and promise each of these students brings to their next chapter.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
