The Firemen’s Relief Association is proud to provide financial awards to the winners of this merit-based program, open to all qualifying member families. Get to know the 2017 winners:
• Paxton Sullivan – Relief Scholarship
What university will you be attending?
Colorado State University
What is your major or area of study?
Major: Animal Science, Minor: Agricultural and resource economics
What are your plans/goals after graduation?
My plan is to attend CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences where I will earn my DVM and pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
How will a scholarship help you?
This scholarship relieves a lot of financial stress off of my parents and is a motivating factor for me to continue to succeed.
What message do you have for the donors that made this scholarship possible?
First, I want to say thank you. And secondly, I want to say please continue doing what you are doing, because you are making an invaluable difference in the lives of students.
What is being part of an LAFD family mean to you?
The LAFD, to me, means sacrifice, love, hard work, dedication, and selflessness. I am proud to have grown up in a family that represents and exudes these core values.
• Lauren Aldana – Relief Scholarship
What university will you be attending?
Arizona State University
What is your major or area of study?
Nursing
Why did you choose this major or area of study?
With my father being a firefighter and my mother being disabled, nursing will allow me to continue giving back to those in my community who need aid.
How will a scholarship help you?
This scholarship will allow me to expand my knowledge and educate myself in a way that will allow me to give back to my community.
What is being part of an LAFD family mean to you?
Being part of an LAFD family means displaying integrity and responsibility in every aspect of my life as my dad has shown me while being involved in the LAFD.
Who or what inspires you most?
My mother and her perseverance despite being disabled has inspired me to put all of my effort into every challenge I take on.
• Julia Noelle Aguirre – Relief Scholarship
What university will you be attending?
Creighton University
What is your major or area of study?
Education
Why did you choose this major or area of study?
I chose education because I have an extreme passion and desire to teach and greatly in elementary school kids and be the steady flow of encouragement in their lives.
What message do you have for the donors that made this scholarship possible?
I would just like to thank the donors or making this scholarship possible by donating to this organization. It helps future or current college students with anything they want and I can say that personally I am extremely grateful.
Who or what inspires you most?
Although my dad’s job is without a doubt one of the most dangerous and takes a special type of person, I would have to say my mom inspires me the most. She has been the most consistent person in my tennis career who takes me everywhere.
• Rachel Sandra Brown – Relief Scholarship
What university will you be attending?
UCLA
What is your major or area of study?
Nursing
Why did you choose this major or area of study?
I plan to become a nurse practitioner and have always been interested in the medical field.
How will a scholarship help you?
I have to pay for any schooling after 4-years so scholarships help pay for 4-years and then my parents will help me with grad school.
What message do you have for the donors that made this scholarship possible?
I would like to say thank you so much. It is such an honor and relief to be awarded this scholarship and I appreciate all you’ve done to help.
What is being part of an LAFD family mean to you?
I am proud to be a part of the LAFD family. I am proud to be surrounded by selfless, loving people willing to support everything I do.
• Lisa Rose Kitahata – Leo Najarian Memorial Scholarship
What university will you be attending?
University of Washington, Seattle
Why did you choose your major or area of study?
Computer Science is a thriving field of study that truly forms the future. The capacity it has to create a change in the world of technology is incredible. The possibilities are virtually endless.
What are your plans/goals after graduation?
My plans/goals after graduation are to go to college to get my Bachelor’s degree, and maybe my masters as well. Also, over the summer I plan on lifeguarding and working an internship at a local tech company.
How will a scholarship help you?
A scholarship will help me immensely in paying out-of-state tuition. With this scholarship, I will be further enabled to carry out my future endeavors as a student that will then allow me to be successful in a career.
What is being part of an LAFD family mean to you?
To me, being a part of an LAFD family means having a unique bond, experience, and set of values unmatched by anything else. Being in the LAFD family has taught me to work hard to reach my goals, to provide service to others and help those in need, and to “pay it forward.”
Who or what inspires you most?
The thing that inspires me the most is the power of optimism and positive thinking. When you maintain a “Glass half-full” approach to life, seeing the brighter side of things can help to motivate and push you to strive for your dreams and passions.
• Lauren McKnight – Dennis Mendenhall Memorial Scholarship
What university will you be attending?
University of California Santa Barbara
What is your major or area of study?
Computer Science
Why did you choose this major or area of study?
I am eager to work in the fields of math and science in order to contribute future innovations to a technological world.
How will a scholarship help you?
This scholarship would help me further my education and work towards a rewarding career.
What message do you have for the donors that made this scholarship possible?
I am truly honored and thankful for being selected to receive this scholarship. I am grateful and appreciative for LAFRA’s generous contribution to my education.
What is being part of an LAFD family mean to you?
It means coming together as one unit to encourage one another and provide hope as our family members put themselves in danger to save others’ lives. It fills me with pride to witness the incredible changes that LAFD members are making in the lives of others.
• Nina Hernandez – Dennis Mendenhall Memorial Scholarship
What university will you be attending?
Willamette University in Oregon
What is your major or area of study?
Physical Therapy/Exercise Science
Why did you choose this major or area of study?
I’m extremely passionate about sports and helping others to improve themselves, while safely working through injuries.
What are your plans/goals after graduation?
I would love to work as a physical therapist for a professional sports team. I am also extremely interested in the field of exercise science, so I’d like to explore that option as well.
How will a scholarship help you?
Receiving this scholarship translates into the ability to achieve even more opportunities to further my academic career. It motivates me to do my best to live up to this great honor throughout college and into graduate school.
What message do you have for the donors that made this scholarship possible?
What an honor it is to be the recipient of such a generous gift. I cannot stress enough how much your generosity will help myself and my family. It’s such a wonderful, selfless act on behalf LAFRA and the LAFD as well.
Who or what inspires you most?
I deeply admire Volleyball legend Gabrielle Reece. She is intelligent, motivational, and has an intense drive to promote overcoming adversity.