IAFC Foundation Announces 2008 Scholarship Winners

Awards Help First Responders Further Their Fire Service Education

The IAFC Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of its 2008 scholarship awards.

A total $25,000 is being awarded to 31 first responders, the majority of whom are firefighters and company officers. Award winners represent all types of departments, including volunteer, combination and career.

These motivated first responders are pursuing degrees and taking courses in Fire Science, Fire Service Administration and Management, Fire Protection and Fire Safety Engineering Technology, Arson Investigation, Public Affairs, Business, Public Safety and Public Administration, Paramedic training, Health Science and Emergency Medical Services, Public Safety Management, Executive and Organizational Leadership, Disaster Planning and Homeland Security.

The Foundation wishes to congratulate the following volunteer scholarship winners:

Firefighter Valarie Adams with Ellington Volunteer Fire Department in Ellington CT

Firefighter/EMT Erin Kostrubiak with Perkasie Fire Co. No. 1 in Perkasie PA

Firefighter Specialist/Captain Jonathan Michael Hinson with Chesapeake Fire Department and Newsoms Volunteer Fire Department in VA

Firefighter Alban Holyoke with Sandy Springs Fire and Miami Township Fire-Rescue in OH

Private Christopher Leier with the College Park Volunteer Fire Department in MD

Firefighter Zachary Main with Knight Township Volunteer Fire Department in IN

Assistant Chief Larry Rauch with the Frankfort Fire Protection District in IL

Lieutenant Ryan Scharff with Voorhees Fire Department in NJ

Firefighter Lukas Stern with Westville Area Fire Protection District in IL

Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Trenck with Town of Ridgefield and Darien Volunteer Fire Department in CT

This year, the IAFC Foundation also received an unprecedented number of applications from career first responders and congratulates the following scholarship winners:

Firefighter Doug Berg with Central Yavapai Fire District in AZ

Firefighter Brad Brown with City of Grand Rapids in MI

Firefighter/EMT Bradley J. Davis with Miles City Fire/Rescue in MT

Fire Captain Kelli Flermoen with Grand Forks Fire Department in ND

Deputy Chief Jeffrey Grote with Kansas City Fire Department in MO

Captain Roy Gunsolus with Renton Fire and Emergency Service Department in WA

Fire Officer/Paramedic Shona Hamlin with City of Knoxville Fire Department in TN

Battalion Chief Lewis Hendricks with the Kansas City Fire Department in MO

Assistant Fire Chief Kris Kazian with Countryside Fire Protection District in IL

Lieutenant Christopher Lyons with Bay Village Fire Department in OH

Firefighter Christopher Methvin with City of Richmond in VA

Battalion Chief/EMS Coordinator William Rhodes with Lancaster Fire Department in TX

Firefighter Todd Rishling with Wonder Lake Fire Protection District in IL

Lieutenant/Paramedic John Ryan with Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue in FL

Firefighter/EMC Jeremy Stewart with City of Clarksville Fire Rescue in TN

Christopher Ward with East Joliet Fire Protection District in IL

Battalion Chief Todd Weidman with Osceola County Fire Rescue and EMS in FL

Chief Steven Todd Wright with Town of Morrisville in NC

Division Chief Jeremy Young with Fort Osage Protection District in MO

The IAFC’s Federal Military Section donated funds from the sale of their commemorative coin for a scholarship to be awarded to a qualified applicant from the Federal Military Section or who serves at a federal military fire department. The winner of this Federal Military Section award goes to Firefighter/EMT Chris Whipple with the US Naval Submarine Base Fire Department in CT.

The Garry L Briese Scholarship Fund Award, established in 2007 with generous support from the Motorola Foundation will go to Lieutenant/Paramedic John Ryan with Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue in FL. This award is generally reserved for company officers, especially targeting Driver/Engineers and/or Lieutenants, for their professional education toward AA/AS or BA/BS degrees.

Fire Explorer Zachary Blauser, with the Waukegan Fire Department in WI will also receive an IAFC Foundation Scholarship Award.