A dozen college-bound and graduate study-level EMS volunteers have received $1,000 awards through 2021 EMS Council of New Jersey (EMSCNJ) scholarship programs.
The 92-year-old nonprofit New Jersey State First Aid Council, doing business as the EMSCNJ, represents approximately 17,000 EMS volunteers affiliated with 233 EMS agencies throughout the Garden State.
Eligible cadet grant applicants were high school seniors planning to attend college this fall, and who are active participants on EMSCNJ-affiliated squads. There were 40 applicants this year for cadet education grants; six were chosen. A selection committee at Raritan Valley Community College reviewed the applications and chose the winners.
Six Gail Lawrence Memorial Scholarships were awarded to graduate students who are EMSCNJ-affiliated volunteers pursuing medical-related careers. The $1,000 grants were established in memory of Lawrence, a mobile intensive care nurse, advanced practice nurse and educator with Rutgers University.
The 2021 EMSCNJ Cadet Scholarship recipients:
Adam Bandler
Morganville First Aid and Rescue Squad
Binghamton University (SUNY)
Finance major
Career goal — attorney
Olivia Buchholz
Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad
Cornell University
Allied Health Sciences major
Career goal — physician
Jack Fetzer
Amwell Valley Ambulance Corps
Fairfield University
Computer Science major
Career goal — software developer
Ilan Fitterman
Ringwood Ambulance Corps
University of New Hampshire
Homeland Security major
Career goal — Secret Service agent
Natalia Kruk
Cranford First Aid Squad
University of Miami
Biology major
Career goal — pre-med, pre-physician assistant
Adele Shepin
Jefferson Township Rescue Squad
Rutgers University
Biology, Pre-Dental major
Career goal — dentist
The 2021 Gail Lawrence Memorial Scholarship recipients:
Erin Maura Crum
Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Rutgers University
Goal — doctorate in nursing – family nurse practitioner in emergency medicine
Jeffrey Mathew
Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences / RWJMS
Goal – MBS in biomedical sciences
Tamanna Sarowar
Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps
NY Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Goal – doctor of osteopathy
Stefanie Sciacca
Mahwah EMS
Pennsylvania State University
Goal – physician assistant
Katelyn Steenvoorden
Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Goal – physician assistant
Svati Zaven
Point Boro First Aid Squad
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Goal – doctor of medicine
