ITTFS Surprise Scholarship Presentation

On Thursday, March 5, a group of Fire Science students, professors and fire officers at Southern Maine Community College got to be part of an exciting surprise scholarship presentation to a veteran of CFA’s Introduction To The Fire Service (ITTFS) Program.

Allyssa Caron, a Firefighter-EMT at the Cape Elizabeth, ME Fire Department and a second-year Fire Science student at Southern Maine Community College, was nominated for and received a scholarship to attend the 2015 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The scholarship, sponsored by Underwriters Laboratories and Honeywell Fire Responder Products provides recipients with round-trip airfare, accommodations, FDIC event passes, breakfast and an invitation to the inauguration dinner.

Hundreds of nominations were submitted from across the United States and a total of 25 recipients were chosen by the scholarship selection panel. 

Allyssa, a first-generation firefighter, began her Fire Service career in high school, serving as a Junior Training Officer.  She has attended the ITTFS Program twice as a student, earning the prestigious Honor Cadet Award as a member of Advanced Skills And Concepts (ASAC) Class 3, and also successfully navigated an intensive competitive selection process to serve as a Junior Counselor for the July 2013 ITTFS Class.  Allyssa returned in 2014 and donated 72 hours of her own time to assist during ASAC Class 4. 

During her time at SMCC, she has earned exceptional grades while working part time, successfully completing Firefighter I, II and EMT-Basic training and certifications and serving as a member of the Cape Elizabeth Fire Department.  Allyssa also serves as a member of SMCC’s Strategic Planning Committee. 

Allyssa was nominated by the scholarship by ITTFS Program Coordinator Ian Tenney.  With the assistance of SMCC Fire Science Chair Professor Steve Willis, CEFD Chief of Department Peter Gleeson, Wells, ME Firefighter James Martin, Allyssa’s parents and several ITTFS alumni attending SMCC, arrangements were made to make the surprise presentation during Fire Administration class.  Chief Gleeson and Ian Tenney presented the scholarship as Allyssa received heartfelt applause from her classmates.

Allyssa is the daughter of proud parents Daniel and Sharon Caron of Coventry, CT.

Left to right:  CEFD Chief of Department Peter Gleeson, CEFD Firefighter-EMT Allyssa Caron, CFA Program Coordinator Ian Tenney.