Carl's Jr.(R) Awards $60,000 in 2006 College Scholarships

CARPINTERIA, Calif., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carl's Jr., a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. , is pleased to announce the award recipients of the 2006 La Estrella Latina de Carl's Jr. Scholarship Program. In an effort to award deserving students and support continuing education, the quick-service restaurant chain has awarded $60,000, or 60-$1,000 awards, to college-bound students from California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas.

"Carl's Jr. was founded and continues to operate under the belief that success occurs as the result of hard work, determination and leadership," said Andrew F. Puzder, president and CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc. "We are pleased to be able to assist these 60 students who have used those same fundamentals to be successful thus far in their academic careers, and we wish them luck in the next step of their education."

Including the $60,000 in scholarships granted this year, the La Estrella Latina de Carl's Jr. Scholarship Program has granted more than $320,000 in scholarships since the program's inception in 1999. Recipients are selected based on their academic record, school and community leadership and participation, work experience and future goals. Financial need and other family circumstances are also considered.

The 2006 La Estrella de Carl's Jr. Scholarship Program award recipients are as follows:

Recipient City, State High School Ana J. Andrade Fresno, CA Sunnyside High School Jesselin Angel Santa Ana, CA Central High School Abigail Aleman Anaheim, CA Katella High School Kathleen Jane L. Arenas El Monte, CA Mountain View High School Casandra Ayala Noriega Sacramento, CA Sacramento Charter High School Rumeisha N. Bowyer Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles CES Stephanie Ceballos La Puente, CA Nogales High School Amber N. Cousins Anthem, AZ Sandra Day O'Connor High School Kelly N. Diep Carlsbad, CA Preuss School Beverly A. Elithorp Lockeford, CA Lodi High School Cristina G. Escobar Oxnard, CA Hueneme High School Patricia Franco Palmdale, CA Palmdale High School Brittni C. Frazier San Francisco, CA Immaculate Conception Academy Marisa O. Garcia San Antonio, TX Health Careers High School Zayda M. Geronimo Daly City, CA Immaculate Conception Academy Ariana E. Gomez Buda, TX Jack Hays High School Desirae M. Gonzalez Victor, CA Lodi High School Christine M. Guerra Folsom, CA Casa Roble High School Sofia E. Guzman El Paso, TX Loretto Academy Drew D. Harber Wister, OK Wister High School Esther Hernandez San Benito, TX San Benito High School Talia E. Hernandez San Diego, CA Clairemont High School Dustin T. Himmerich San Clemente, CA J. Serra High School Vu A. Hong San Diego, CA Preuss School Nathan H. Kandus Santa Barbara, CA San Marcos High School Shannen N. Kerst San Diego, CA Patrick Henry High School Annie Kong Lodi, CA Lodi High School Alexander K. Lewis Lemon Grove, CA Helix Charter Maria-Jose Lindo Rohnert Park, CA Technology High School Geovani E. Lopez Los Angeles, CA Theodore Roosevelt High School Lizbeeth Lopez Sacramento, CA West Campus High School Claudia L. Martinez Pleasanton, CA Amador Valley High School Katlynn R. Martinez Fontana, CA Fontana High School Pedro Martinez Porterville, CA Granite Hills High School Claudia A. Mendoza Laredo, TX St. Augustine Sarah Mohtadi North Hills, CA John F. Kennedy High School Christina I. Monroy Greenfield, CA Greenfield High School Francesca A. Montano Tulare, CA Tulare Union High School Isabel Montoya Greenfield, CA Greenfield High School Nicole M. Nabor Cypress, CA Los Alamitos High School Diana E. Naranjo Sherman Oaks, CA El Camino Real High School Ali D. Nguyen San Jose, CA Piedmont High School Christina I. Nuno Los Angeles, CA Holy Family High School Calvin J. Patel Lodi, CA Lodi High School Marian Pavlovich La Mesa, CA Helix Charter Laura L. Ponce Huntington Beach, CA Ocean View High School Tamera Z. Richarson Santa Maria, CA Santa Maria High School Angel E.Rios El Paso, TX Silva Health Magnet Jean-Carlo Rosero Las Vegas, NV Nevada State High School Frida H. Salcedo Irvine, CA Woodbridge High School Adriana N. Sanchez Huron, CA Tulare Western Adlyn L. South South San Francisco, CA El Camino High School Alexandra C. Stubbs Corona, CA Centenial High School Michael T. Van Garden Grove, CA Garden Grove High School Kasondra L. VanPykeren-Gerth Carmichael, CA Roseville High School Ashley L. West Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Tesoro High School Estevan L. Whitfield Sacramento, CA Sacramento Charter High School Vanessa G. Wright Moreno Valley, CA John W. North High School Danny A. Wudka Reseda, CA William H. Taft High School Lisa Yee Los Angeles, CA Abraham Lincoln High School

The La Estrella Latina de Carl's Jr. Scholarship Program is administered by Scholarship America, a national nonprofit educational support and student aid service organization. Employees, affiliates and franchisees of CKE Restaurants, Inc., Scholarship America, affiliated agencies and their immediate families are not eligible to receive a scholarship pursuant to this program.

Carl's Jr. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the fiscal year ended Jan. 30, 2006, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,160 franchised or company-owned restaurants in 43 states and in 13 countries, including 1,049 Carl's Jr. restaurants, 1,993 Hardee's(R) restaurants and 102 La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill(R) restaurants. For more information, or to find a Carl's Jr. near you, go to http://www.ckr.com/ or http://www.carlsjr.com/.