2007 Winners

NBFAA Awards $20,000 in Scholarships

There is nothing quite like seeing dreams come true, but that’s just what happened recently. Thanks to the members of NBFAA, and the association’s Youth Scholarship Program, three children of police and fire officials were told that they would be receiving funds to help them pursue their dreams of a college education

The first place winner, Leah Mainiero of Connecticut, received a $10,000 scholarship, while second place winner Harrison Turner from Pennsylvania and third place winner, Megan Crawley of New Jersey were awarded $7,500 and $2,500 respectively. The total $20,000 in awards is double the previous amount. The honor of calling the winners to tell them the good news was given to chartered chapter representatives in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The scoring for the youth scholarship program is based on academic achievement, test scores, community activity and an essay titled, “What it means to ME to have my parent or guardian involved in securing our community.”

Mainiero, a senior at Pomperaug Regional High School in Southbury, Conn., was “ecstatic” when she got the call. “I was so excited. When I hung up the phone, I jumped up and down and screamed with my mom,” Mainiero said. The future International Relations major at John Hopkins University said that she’s always been interested in culture and politics because of her father’s job as a Waterbury, Conn. police sergeant.

“My father’s service in the community has had a profound and lasting impact on me personally. Not only do I respect, appreciate and admire my father’s work, but through it I have developed a greater understanding of the world around me. Though the uncertain and often thankless work my father performs may not necessarily fit the “American Dream” ideal, in my eyes it is worth much more. Most people work in pursuit of their own personal version of the American dream; my father works to protect their freedom to do so.”

A senior at North Allegheny High School in Wexford, Pa., an Eagle Scout and a National Merit Finalist, the second place winner also wrote about the pride he feels about his father’s role as a volunteer firefighter for the Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Company.

“I cannot help but ask myself what compels a man with a good life, and a fairly comfortable one, to potentially risk his life and expect nothing in return,” he writes. “My dad wants to help others, and he knows that if our house was burning, we would need volunteer firefighters.”

Like Mainiero, Turner was excited about winning the award. “The amount of money I’m receiving is really going to help,” he explained. His future plans include studying mathematics at Carnegie Mellon. “Do you know those people that say math is boring and they don’t understand it? Well, I’m not one of them; I really enjoy it,” Turner added.

Crawley, the third place winner from Sea Girt, N.J. Point Pleasant Beach High School plans to attend Bucknell University to study bio-chemistry and hopes to one day work in genetic research. Crawley exemplifies community services as she is a member of the Volunteer First Aid Squad and is a certified New Jersey emergency medical technician.

In her essay, Crawley writes about her dad’s life as a volunteer firefighter with the Sea Girt Fire Company.

“I used to imagine the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood version of a firefighter, sliding down fire poles, climbing into a bright red fire truck, and petting the Dalmatian mascot on his way. I understand now the danger and sacrifice that being a firefighter entails and the courage it takes to run into a burning building that everyone else is running out of. I can recognize now the fear and pressure that comes with the job and I hold deep admiration for men and women like my father who strive to do what is right for the community despite the difficulty,” she writes.

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