 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Motorola Future Leaders Scholarship Fund Announces First Annual Winners
The IAFC Foundation is pleased to announce three winners of the Motorola Future Leaders Scholarship Fund recently established with generous support from the Motorola Foundation.
Through this award, Motorola demonstrates their commitment to a well-educated, trained, versatile fire and emergency service, according to IAFC Foundation President Anthony P. Campisi.
“The Motorola Foundation has a great history of supporting education and the fire service. Through this scholarship fund, we hope to help those interested in fire service leadership positions to achieve their career goals,” said Ms. Eileen Sweeny, director of the Motorola Foundation.
Company Officer Merritt Kearns with Statesboro Fire Department is pursing a bachelor’s degree in fire administration from the University of Memphis. “The knowledge and skills I gain from these experiences will be crucial to improving the educational and training opportunities I help provide as a fire science program instructor to fellow firefighters from my community and across the state.”
In recommending him for the scholarship, Fire Chief Dennis Merrifield said “an investment in Lt. Kearns is an investment in the fire service as a whole.”
Captain James Paul of Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Mountain State University, sited the concepts and methodslearned during this program allowed him to focus on the needs of the participants and to motivate the faculty and staff to deliver the 2009 Virginia Fire Officer Academy during a fiscally challenging time. |
Captin Paul |
Captain Donald Willbanks with Sandy Springs Fire Rescue, who is pursing a master’s degree from Grand Canyon University, is this year’s third winner. |
Captain Willbanks |
The IAFC Foundation and the IAFC are working together to help company officers develop their leadership capabilities. The IAFC focuses on the preparation of the next generation of leadership for the fire and emergency service. The very successful company officer program offered at Fire-Rescue International is an example of this leadership preparation. The IAFC plans to continue this program and expand it in the coming years. For more information, go to www.iafc.org/fri.
Chief Steven P Westermann, IAFC President 2007-2008 and IAFC Foundation board member and himself a past scholarship recipient, said, “The IAFC Foundation is proud to advance the fire service by helping first responders ensure they are well prepared to face the challenges of today’s increasingly complex world. I encourage first responders to seek out educational opportunities and apply to the IAFC Foundation for tuition assistance as I did many years ago. I ask those in the fire service community to support the crucial scholarships offered by the IAFC Foundation.”
With your help, the IAFC Foundation can offer more scholarships to deserving and inspiring first responders. Your donation makes a difference to a fellow first responder! Donate online to make a secure donation.
For those interested in additional resources, see the information below. For more information about the IAFC Foundation, visit the Foundation website or contact Judy Kirk at jkirk@iafc.org or 703-537-4830.
Scholarship applications and guidelines can also be found on the Foundation website or on the IAFC website in the Download Documents section.
The Company Officer Development Handbook, developed by the IAFC’s Professional Development Committee, provides a clear roadmap for success as a fire service officer. The handbook melds diverse points of view into a professional development planning tool that serves both incumbent and aspiring officers. Visit www.iafc.org and click on Resources > Publications for Sale to purchase copies.