Got Cash for College?

Photo Courtesy of www.RaisingLaddersPhotography.com

A college education is one of the greatest gifts and rewards we can ever offer a volunteer firefighter.

Giving them the opportunity to earn a college degree makes them more employable. Making them more employable offers them the opportunity to secure and succeed at a better paying job. Succeeding at a better paying job offers them a better opportunity to remain local, allowing them to give their time and dedication to serving your community. That’s what’s called: ROI – Return On Investment.

It’s a relatively simple equation — stuff you don’t even need a college degree to figure out that it can work for your fire department and your fire service.

  • Does your FD or fire service organization offer scholarships?
  • What’s the criteria?
  • How have they worked for you?
  • If you could afford to give scholarships, what criteria would you use for recipient selection and continuing eligibility?

More and more fire departments and fire service organizations are using SAFER grants to support their tuition assistance programs, including, but certainly not limited to: Hyattsville Volunteers, Rockland County Creative Approach Committee, Erie County Emergency Services, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York and Doyle Hose Co. 1.

Here’s an example of our local 100 Club’s efforts to keep our young people educated and involved in our community:

REMINDER: 2011 Scholarship of Excellence applications due May 4th
 
The 100 Club provides Scholarships of Excellence of up to $2500.00 to high school seniors of active law enforcement, fire or emergency service providers who plan to continue their education at a two- or four-year college. Scholarships are given to seniors who have exemplified outstanding achievement in academics, extracurricular or employment activities and community involvement.

To be considered, the high school senior must meet the following criteria:

  • Serve as a role model for other young adults
  • Demonstrate community involvement
  • Demonstrate extracurricular or employment activity
  • Demonstrate consistent academic achievement throughout high school
  • Exhibit leadership potential

Application instructions – submit:

  • One (1) original and two (2) copies of the completed application form
  • A two-page, double-spaced, typed essay describing your qualifications as listed in the Criteria above, including comments on your employment experience, community involvement and extracurricular activities
  • A copy of your high school transcript or a record of your last three (3) years of grades
  • A copy of your college entrance examination scores
  • Description of your plans for continuing education
  • Written verification of your family member’s current service to a Public Service Agency
  • Completed applications must be returned to The 100 Club of Buffalo no later than May 4, 2011.

100 Club of Buffalo, Inc.
338 Harris Hill Rd, Suite 102
Williamsville, New York 14221

Please note: All scholarship applicants agree to the use of their name, photo, parents’ names and public safety agency affiliation for The 100 Club promotional purposes. Objections to the use of this information must be received in writing by certified mail return receipt requested at the time the application is submitted. Failure to send a written request to withhold this information constitutes an authorization of The 100 Club to use the information for promotional purposes.

You can download the application here:  http://www.100clubbuffalo.org/docs/2011ScholarshipOfExcellence.pdf

Visit www.100clubbuffalo.org for more info.