BOSTON -- WCVB-TV/DT Channel 5 awarded the 11th annual Kirby Perkins A+ Scholarships to four deserving high school seniors Tuesday.

The scholarship fund was established in memory of NewsCenter 5's Kirby Perkins, who developed the unique A+ reports. The segments profiled high school students who have excelled academically despite adverse circumstances.

VIDEO: A Plus Scholarships Given Out

The following students were chosen from a diverse group of A+ students featured in reports on NewsCenter 5. Each student received $2,000.

Arianne Del Rios -- Algonquin Regional High School, Northborough

Ashkay Dave -- Wilmington High School

Choua Yang -- Fitchburg High School

Abdoul Diallo -- Boston International High School, Boston

The Kirby Perkins A+ Scholarship Fund was established in July 1997 after Perkins passed away due to complications following heart failure.

Beginning in 1972 as a desk assistant and writer in the WCVB news department, Perkins returned from California to WCVB in 1979 as a reporter. As a respected journalist, he distinguished himself with day-to-day reports on state and local government as well as coverage of all major political campaigns and elections.

Believing first and foremost that news was about people, he had he ability to tackle the most complicated stories and make them relevant and understandable to viewers. Today, the A+ reports continue as a signature NewsCenter 5 series.

The fund is administrated by the A+ Scholarship Board of Trustees and Channel 5.s Scholarship Committee. For more information or to make a contribution to the Kirby Perkins A+ Scholarship write to:

Kirby Perkins A+ Scholarship Fund
c/o WCVB-TV/DT Channel 5
5 TV Place
Needham, MA 02494