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Fire District Brings Diversity to Their Team

On 3/7/2007

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Contributed by: Catherine Chaney on 3/7/2007

St. Lucie County Fire District
News Release

Contact: Catherine Whitaker
Public Information Officer
St. Lucie County Fire District
772-201-2490
cwhitaker@slcfd.org

St. Lucie County Fire District
Brings Diversity to Their Team

Sizemore Scholarship Attracts
Minority to the Fire Service

In 2005 the St. Lucie County Fire District (SLCFD) teamed-up with the Indian River Community College (IRCC) Foundation Office to bring more minorities and females into the Fire District. The tool was a Scholarship Fund created by the 7-member Fire Board. The Chief Jay Sizemore Minority Scholarship Fund awards a $3,500 scholarship to two students annually who met certain criteria. The IRCC Selection and Loan Committee is tasked with deciding who receives the scholarship.

The eligibility requirements for the applicants include: being accepted into the IRCC EMT program and IRCC's Basic Fire Recruit Academy; being a minority as defined by the law; graduating from a St. Lucie County high school; having a clean driving record with no felony convictions; and submitting to a background check. The applicants must meet the same requirements of any IRCC student in the EMT program or Fire Academy.

Jacques Germain had served 4 years in the Marine Corps and returned home to take few classes before heading off to study physical therapy at the University of Miami. While at IRCC he saw a flyer for the scholarship and began to do some research. He was one of the first recipients, being awarded the scholarship in January 2005. He went through the EMT program and then the Fire Academy, graduating in December 2005. He received his EMT Certification and started working at Fire Station #3 on April 17, 2006. He transferred to Fire Station #1 on October 17, 2006 and continues there while working on his Paramedic License.

His advice to others - Go For It.

"If it is really what you want to do, go for it," explained Germain. "You need to be disciplined, it is not easy."

Two other students recently took his advice. Salomon Rincon and Alexia Birth are the most recent recipients of the Scholarship and they both graduated from the IRCC Fire Academy in December 2006.

Rincon thought about becoming either a firefighter or police officer when in high school. After graduating from Savannah College in 2004, he decided he preferred fire fighting and applied for the scholarship. He feels privileged to be part of the program.

Birth had also thought about becoming a firefighter since high school when she was part of the Explorer Program. She is familiar to many firefighters through her time spent as an Explorer. She was one of approximately 15 high school students who rode at least 12 hours a month with the SLCFD. In her junior year she had to make a choice between nursing and fire fighting, and after a week at nursing, she decided she wanted to be part of fire service.

Both Rincon and Birth just finished orientation/training. Because they went through it together, and did not wait for a full class, they received more individual time. They are however at a disadvantage when it comes to some hands-on experience which requires a team of firefighters.

All three scholarship recipients agree they love the program and are thankful for the opportunity to be part of the Fire District and serve their community.

The deadline for the next scholarship is August 1.
# # #

photo cutline: Alexia Birth, Salomon Rincon, and Jacques Germain (left to right) are recent recipients of the Sizemore Scholarship. The scholarship, coordinated through IRCC Foundation, helps attract minorities to the fire service.

# # #

Catherine Whitaker
Public Information Officer
St. Lucie County Fire District
772-201-2490
cwhitaker@slcfd.org

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