Three East County graduates were among five San Diego County students awarded $1,000 sustainability scholarships from Wheelhouse Credit Union, according to Patch.

The recipients included Lyan Alskooti of Valhalla High School in El Cajon, who plans to attend UC San Diego; Ariana Heninger of Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, who plans to attend California Lutheran University; and Christina Rosado of Granite Hills High School, who plans to attend UC San Diego. Finn Brentnall of Cathedral Catholic High School and Daniel Vinegrad of Coronado High School were also honored.

The awards were made through Wheelhouse's annual Sustainability College Scholarship Program, which was established in 2005. Students were selected for academics, leadership, public service and efforts to make their schools and communities more sustainable, the credit union said.

Wheelhouse President and CEO Lisa Paul-Hill said the students show how environmental leadership can begin in classrooms, homes or community projects, according to the Patch report.

For Santee and East County families, the honors put a spotlight on local students heading into college with a public-service and sustainability focus. Wheelhouse said it has awarded $147,000 in scholarships to local students since its scholarship programs began.