Ron Ciaravella never thought he would be in a place where he could award scholarships, but on Aug. 1 he handed out six $1,000 scholarships to rising college freshmen from the Sarasota area.

Owner of Dolphin Aviation, an aviation services company, Ciaravella began the scholarship program 18 years ago to “support collegiate efforts and encourage tomorrow’s innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders.”

The $1,000 scholarship had 74 applicants from which six students received a one-time award to the students during their freshman year.