Matching $500 awards to their school

Williams Comfort Air will begin accepting nominations for teachers as part of its ExtraordinAIRy Treasures program on Sunday, September 18, 2011. We will honor six ExtraordinAIRy Teachers (two elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high school teachers), each receiving a $500 cash award and $500 donation to their school.

You may know a teacher who has gone above and beyond in helping a child learn, possibly through adapting teaching styles to reach the child, or who has a unique way of reaching students and a desire to help every student, no matter how difficult. Students may know a teacher who has reached out to them and helped them learn life lessons as well as educational lessons. This can be a way to say “thanks” and let our Central Indiana teachers know that they are appreciated.

Last year’s ExtraordinAIRy Treasure Teacher Awards were presented to: Kimberly Kasal, a 4th grade teacher at Eagle Elementary School in Zionsville; Tammy Hoersten, a special needs teacher from Chapelwood Elementary School on the West Side; Cattina Memmer, a 6th grade teacher at Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy on the South Side; Laurie Russo, a business and ENL (English as a New Language) teacher at Westfield High School; James Ratliff, a drafting and architecture teacher at Roncalli High School; and Brooke Tharp, a special needs teacher at Mt. Vernon High School.

Teachers in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan, and Shelby counties can be nominated.

We would appreciate you sharing this information with local schools, students of all ages, PTOs, churches, neighbors, families, co-workers and friends.

Nominations will be accepted through November 30, 2011.

Please consider helping out our community. We are two weeks away from our Fourth Annual Blood Drive in Honor of Michael Treinen of Noblesville and we are short 32 wonderful donors! All remaining available times are listed on the sign-up form.

Go here and sign-up. http://extraordinairytreasures.com/blood-drive-sign-up

Blood Drive Information

Date: Wednesday June 29, 2011
Start Time: 6:30 AM
End Time: 2:00 PM
Where: Williams Comfort Air Parking Lot
Address: 1077 3rd Avenue SW; Carmel, IN 46032

About Michael 

Michael was diagnosed with cancer… Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in May 2007. He was a fighter and lived life to the fullest. After undergoing five chemotherapy treatments, he was found cancer-free in December 2007. However, after relapsing in January 2008, Michael lost his battle with cancer on May 25, 2008, just days before his 20th birthday. He fought until the very end – leaving emptiness in our hearts that can never be filled. Michael has inspired his family, friends, and others to be fighters in times that we could easily be discouraged.

Fifteen Scholarships Awarded

Williams Comfort Air and Metzler’s Mr. Plumber are pleased to announce the recipients of our 2011 ExtraordinAIRy Treasures scholarships. Our five person committee glimpsed into the lives of 150 nominees representing 50 Central Indiana high schools and selected fifteen ExtraordinAIRy Treasures. Each of these ExtraordinAIRy Treasures will receive a one-time $1,000 ExtraordinAIRy Treasures scholarship.

The 2011 ExtraordinAIRy Treasures Scholarship recipients are:

Alexandra Kapsalis (Fishers); Andres Duarte (Arsenal Technical); Ashly Fisher (Roncalli); Brittany Means (Martinsville); Deonte Brown (McKenzie Career Center/Lawrence North); Deyanira Hernandez (Lawrence Central); Ebony Peck (Decatur Central); Eric McDowell (Central Nine Career Center/Whiteland); John Heigl (Zionsville); Kameron James (Pike); Kevin Anderson (In Grace Home Educators); Stanton Wilhite (Cathedral); Taylor Peters (Southport); Trent Rhoades (Whiteland); and Zachary Hardin (Park Tudor)

We will hold an awards ceremony for these fifteen graduates, their parents/guardians, nominators, and references in the near future. Stay tuned to our blog as we will be posting individual bios on each of these ExtraordinAIRy Treasures.

The committee was honored to learn about each and every one of the 150 seniors that you nominated! As we read these essays, our feelings once again road a roller coaster: pride and awe in the selfless service given by so many; inspiration from and tears for the difficult life circumstances some of these young people have persevered; joy for those who pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and made a u-turn during high school to be successful. Each of these young people are ExtraordinAIRy Treasures. 

Thanks to all who nominated a senior, “friended” us on Facebook, spread the word about these scholarships, and most importantly are encouraging and supporting these young people today. We look forward to continuing the ExtraordinAIRy Treasures Scholarships for the Class of 2012.

Please keep following us as we honor other ExtraordinAIRy Treasures in the future. We will once again look to you to nominate your ExtraordinAIRy Treasures and spread the word.