By Mark Robinson

Fifteen 2014 high school graduates from Central Indiana, including five from Hamilton County high schools, were honored Dec. 22 for receiving $1,000 college scholarships from the ExtraordinAIRy Treasures Scholarship program.

Sponsored by Williams Comfort Air since 2009, the ExtraordinAIRy program annually awards scholarships to college-bound seniors, but the students have nothing to do with the nomination process. Instead, candidates are recommended by teachers, parents, counselors, friends or others. Nominators submit an essay describing particular extraordinary life qualities of the nominee such as community service, overcoming obstacles, leadership activities or family commitment. The 2014 scholarship recipients overcame such difficulties as homelessness, epilepsy, autism, dyslexia and more, earning the praise of their nominators and vote of the selection committee.

The 15 recipients were named last spring from a pool of nearly 150 nominees and all winners received their $1,000 scholarships in time for entering their postsecondary education stage in the fall. Twelve of the 15 gathered for a ceremony at the Monon Center in Carmel, where they received plaques to commemorate the achievement. Recipients from Hamilton County high schools were: Ryan Beery, Carmel; Charles Cummings, Guerin Catholic; Molly Hopper and Alexandra Pavich, Noblesville; and Spencer Dant, University.

The scholarship program expects to begin accepting nominations for 2015 high school graduates in mid-January, but the program is seeking a new sponsor. For more information on nominating a student or sponsoring the scholarship program, visit extraordinAIRytreasures.com.