Feb. 05--SANBORN -- A pair of students are learning that it can pay to be a volunteer.
Brandon Hansen, 18, of Wheatfield and Christopher J. Fournier, 19, of Lockport began receiving tuition reimbursement this past fall as they each began their freshman year at Niagara County Community College.
The money is coming from a new statewide program from the Firemen's Association of New York that pays volunteer firefighter's tuition at their local community college.
Students who are "members in good standing" at a local fire company can receive up to 100 percent of their tuition paid to attend their closest community college. Awards are dependent on grades. Student/volunteer firefighters must reapply each semester and can pursue academics on a full-or part-time basis with no restrictions on the type of degree. However, awards are for students who have not received a college degree or not taken 80 or more credits. The deadline to apply for the spring semester is Feb. 15.
The association's Higher Education Learning Plan [HELP] was initiated last year as an incentive for volunteer fire departments to recruit more members.
"Now, more than ever, we need dedicated volunteers serving our communities so that an optimal level of fire and emergency protection can be provided to the citizens of this state," said George Davenport, chairman of the organization's Recruitment and Retention Committee.
For Hansen and Fournier the new program has provided some much needed help in affording tuition.
Fournier, who completed his firefighter 1 training this past year, is a member of the Cambria Volunteer Fire Company. He graduated from Starpoint High School and is majoring in liberal arts at NCCC.
He said he liked the idea of contributing to his community through the fire company.
"I feel obligated. I feel that as a member of the community I should volunteer," Fournier said. "It feels good to help people out."
He said the program has been a great help to him.
"I can only work so much when I am not going to school, and I didn't want to have this debt hanging over my head," Fournier said.
Hansen, a graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School, is a volunteer at St. Johnsburg Fire Company. He recently completed his firefighter 1 training and is working on his emergency medical technician training. He is a business administration major at NCCC and said he would like to pursue a career in law enforcement.
"It's really cool," Hansen said of his work as a volunteer. "I would definitely recommend it. I get a lot out of it. You meet a lot of great people."
He also said the tuition program has made a difference for him.
"I was working 35 hours a week to try and avoid taking out student loans, and when I found about [tuition reimbursement,] it was huge. I'm hoping to go through community college without taking out a single loan," Hansen said.
Hansen and Fournier are both top students and get 90 percent of their tuition paid.
Students with straight As receive 100 percent of their tuition paid, students with B's receive 80 percent, and the sliding scale continues to 50 percent reimbursements.
Eligible student/volunteers must also maintain acceptable volunteer activity and training levels while attending school and fulfill a service requirement after they complete their course of study.
The program offers tuition incentive for students throughout the state, providing tuition to 100 students this past fall at more than 20 community colleges. Erie County, which has its own program, does not participate in the FASNY program.
The program is made possible through a nearly $4.3 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Information and applications for the spring grant, due on Feb. 15, are available online at www.fasny.com.
Copyright 2012 - The Buffalo News, N.Y.
