Fire chiefs group awards scholarships

The Lancaster County Fire Chiefs Association recently announced the latest winners of its annual scholarship.

Sara Gardner and Meredith Hagins are the winners for the 2010 cycle, each receiving $500. They were presented their award July 22 at the association’s regular meeting.

Each year, the association awards a $1,000 scholarship to one student or $500 to two.

To be eligible, students must be a dependent or immediate family member of an active fire service member of the Lancaster Fire Department or one of the volunteer fire departments in Lancaster County.

Money for the award is generated through dues association members pay during the year.

“It’s just a way for us to give back to the community,” said Leonard Sims, president of the association. “There’s 19 fire departments, and we want to give back to the families of the firefighters who give their time and energy.”

Gardner, a 2010 Lancaster High School graduate, is set to attend Winthrop University, where she will major in mass communication.

Her father is Steve Gardner, who’s with Riverside Volunteer Fire Department.

Hagins, also a 2010 Lancaster High School graduate, will be attending the University of South Carolina in the fall and major in engineering.

Her father is Larry Hagins, who’s with Elgin Volunteer Fire Department.

Applications for next year’s scholarship cycle will go out Jan. 1, 2011.

For details, contact your local volunteer fire department or call Sims at (803) 416-2002.

Contact reporter Jesef Williams at jwilliams@thelancasternews.com or at (803) 283-1152