Scholarship & Awards
2027 forms will be available later this year!
Scholarship & Awards Application & Nomination Package (PDF)
Scholarship & Awards Flyer (JPG)
Deadline: TBA
Scholarship Program
NYSAFC established this program to enhance, through academic achievement at the college level, the quality of leadership in the fire and emergency services, life safety field, and public safety field and to assist association Individual Members in their pursuit of academic advancement. Scholarship awards will be granted in memory of association Executive Director Emeritus Chief Ward A. Bohner and his wife, Janice R. Bohner, Past President Chief Anthony J. “Andy” Messina, and President Emeritus Chief James E. Hare for their years of dedicated service. Tuition assistance is offered based upon merit to Individual Members of NYSAFC (and their spouses and children) pursuing degrees (full or part time) at an accredited institution of higher education. The Hare Scholarship Award is presented to students working toward an emergency services degree (fire science, EMS, emergency management, etc.) who are currently serving with a fire or EMS agency and who have participated as a junior/explorer/RAM (or the equivalent). The Messina Scholarship Award is conferred to students seeking an emergency services degree. The Bohner Scholarship Award is bestowed to those pursuing a general course of study in any other field.
Ward Bohner was chief of the Waterville Fire Department (Oneida County) from 1948-1953. He served as NYSAFC secretary/treasurer and later executive director from 1954-1983. His wife, Jan, dedicated many years of service to the association in support of its educational mission. Andy Messina was a 72-year member and ex-chief of the Bellmore Fire Department (Nassau County) who led NYSAFC as president from 1990-1991. Jim Hare was a 50-year veteran of the Hilton Fire Department (Monroe County), which he led as chief from 1996-1998. He was also a retired EMT and worked with youth in the Hilton Fire Department Explorer Program for 49 years. Hare served on the NYSAFC board of directors from 2016-2024, was installed as 2nd vice president in 2024, and was posthumously appointed president emeritus 2024-2025.
Hare Scholarship Award:
Explorer Graden Kimmel (Hilton Fire Department Explorer Post)
Messina Scholarship Awards:
Firefighter Brody Chapman (Eaton Fire Department)
Firefighter Lauren Parada (Central Islip Fire Department)
Firefighter Dennis Dougherty (Cazenovia Fire Department)
Bohner Scholarship Award:
Jack Miller (Johnstown Fire Department)
Chief Neil McNeight Hands-On Training Award
This award program was established by the Chautauqua County & Monroe County Fire Chiefs Hospitality Committee in memory of association Past President Chief Neil McNeight. It is intended to advance firefighter training by funding the registration of qualified and deserving students in the Hands-On Training program conducted in conjunction with the association’s Annual Conference & FIRE Expo. The award program, open to NYSAFC Individual and Department Members, will include enrollment in the Hands-On Training session of the recipient’s choice (based on availability), conference and expo registration, hotel accommodations for two nights, and a meal stipend.
Neil McNeight was a 64-year member of the Fredonia Fire Department (Chautauqua County), where he served as chief for two years. He was also a longtime county fire coordinator. A 60-year member of NYSAFC, McNeight served as president from 1991-1992.
Recipients:
2021 – Lieutenant Jessica Canary (East Aurora Fire Department)
2021 – Captain Jennie Smith (Lancaster Fire Department)
2023 – Lieutenant Adam Ahrens (Fredonia Fire Department)
2024 – Captain Andrew McLaughlin (Peru Fire Department)
2024 – Firefighter Joanna Meyers (Guilderland Center Fire Department)
2025 – Lieutenant Liam Sayward (Peru Fire Department)
2026 – Firefighter Emmalee Kadle (Berkshire Fire District)
2026 – Firefighter Shawn Waters (Trenton Joint Fire District – Barneveld Fire Co.)
Chief Fred W. Singer Fire Educator of the Year Award
The Fire Educator of the Year Award is presented in memory of association Past President Chief Fred W. Singer. It recognizes outstanding effort in fire service training and education. Any NYSAFC Individual Member who is a fire service instructor providing training within the state of New York at the state, county, or department level is eligible for the award.Fred Singer was a 40-year member of the Vestal Fire Department (Broome County) who served as chief from 1968-1969. A highly regarded teacher and champion of firefighter safety and training, he was also a longtime fire instructor. Singer was NYSAFC president from 1993-1994.
Recipients:
1999 – Greg Tiner (Onondaga County)
2000 – Mark A. Warfle (Owego Fire Department/Tioga County)
2001 – William J. Herman (Rockland County)
2002 – Andrew A. Fredericks (FDNY/Rockland County)
2003 – Richard A. French (Defreestville Fire Department/Rensselaer Co.)
2004 – Thomas W. Bierds (Rockland Lake Fire Department/Rockland Co.)
2005 – Glen Miller (Dundee Fire Department/Yates Co.)
2006 – Steven L. Herberger (Getzville Fire Co./Erie Co.)
2012 – Paul C. Melfi (City of Olean Fire Department)
2013 – Robert T. Burns (FDNY)
2016 – William Perritt (Hartsdale Fire District) & Scott Pike (Stratton Air National Guard Base)
2018 – James McCann (Orange County Division of Fire Services)
2019 – Edward Fletcher (NYS Office of Fire Prevention & Control)
2022 – Samuel Usborne (Cazenovia Fire Department)
2023 – Gregory R. Timmons (Peru Fire Department)
2024 – Terence S. Hannigan (Elsmere Fire District)
2025 – Chief Chris Rea (Kingston Fire Department)
2026 – Captain Michael Deyneka (City of Auburn Fire Department)
James W. Wright Public Education Award
This award is presented in memory of association Public Education Committee Chairman James W. Wright. It recognizes an individual, emergency services agency, or community organization for innovation and exceptional effort in fire/injury prevention and fire/life safety public education, with the goal of raising awareness about unique programs for the benefit of other educators.Jim Wright was a 53-year member of the Norwich Fire Department (Chenango County). He served as department treasurer, secretary, and vice president, and was also a deputy fire coordinator from 1976-2006. Wright was a charter member and past chairman of the NYSAFC Public Education Committee. He helped initiate this award in 1995, and it was renamed in 2009 in his honor.
Recipients:
1995 – Schuyler County Firemen’s Association
1996 – Oneida County Firemen's Association
1997 – Rockville Centre Fire Department
1998 – Carnegie School Program – Syracuse
2000 – Greenwich Fire Department
2001 – Lancaster Fire Department
2002 – Lake Mohegan Fire Department
2003 – Beekmantown Fire Department
2004 – Floyd & Stittville Volunteer Fire Departments
2005 – Roosevelt Fire Department
2006 – Grand Island Fire Company
2007 – Cattaraugus Fire Department
2008 – Vestal Fire Department
2009 – Central Islip Fire Department
2010 – Firefighter Christopher Halliday/Manlius Fire Department
2011 – White Plains Fire Bureau
2012 – NYSAFC 2011 Smoke Alarm Project Partners (20 fire departments)
2013 – Cobleskill Fire Department
2014 – Whitesboro Fire Department Fire Prevention & Life Safety Team
2015 – Oriskany Volunteer Fire Department
2016 – Cranesville Volunteer Fire Department
2017 – Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
2018 – Captain Larry Dawson (Hagaman Volunteer Fire Department)
2019 – Fairview Fire District
2022 – Francis Stepien (Onondaga County Fire Prevention Education Center)
2023 – Lieutenant Nicholas Persons (Niskayuna Fire District No. 1)
2024 – James Blackburn (Indian River Middle School) – “Mr. BB’s Fire and Life Safety Program”
2026 – Gates Fire District
New York State Fire Chief of the Year Awards
The Fire Chief of the Year Awards are presented to recognize association Individual Members for demonstration of exemplary leadership that has not only benefited an individual fire department, but also the emergency services of New York state. Each year, NYSAFC honors a career fire chief and a volunteer fire chief from the Empire State with these prestigious awards. Honorees are chosen based upon demonstration of outstanding leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, service to the public, and contributions to the fire and emergency services.Career Fire Chief of the Year Award Recipients:
2004 – Daniel J. Gaumont (City of Watertown Fire Department)
2005 – Peter E. Hayden (FDNY)
2006 – Harold J. “Bud” Phillips (Ridge Road Fire District)
2012 – Joseph M. Fahd Jr. (Cohoes Fire Department)
2014 – James P. Maxwell (Batavia Fire Department)
2015 – Jeff Dygert (Auburn Fire Department)
2016 – James R. Comstock (Henrietta Fire District)
2017 – Thomas M. Cain (Scarsdale Fire Department)
2018 – Dale Herman (City of Watertown Fire Department)
2019 – Edward Rush (Hartsdale Fire District)
2021 – Mark Strzyzynski (Henrietta Fire District)
2022 – Howard Reiss (Fairview Fire District)
2023 – Michael J. Monds (Syracuse Fire Department)
2024 – Brad W. Davies (City of Corning Fire Department)
2025 – William Steenbergh (Arlington Fire District)
2026 – Wayne C. Friedman (City of Cortland Fire Department)
Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Award Recipients:
2004 – Gregory R. Becker (Milan Volunteer Fire Department)
2005 – John J. Maguire (Freeport Fire Department)
2008 – Thomas E. Rothdiener (Oriskany Fire Department)
2013 – Martin J. Ingram (Point Breeze Vol. Fire Department)
2014 – Christopher O’Brien (Bellmore Fire Department)
2016 – Thomas W. Gies (Merrick Fire Department)
2017 – Joseph E. O’Grady (Floral Park Fire Department)
2018 – Frank D. Nestle (Canajoharie Volunteer Fire Department)
2019 – William Maloney (Speigletown District Volunteer Fire Company)
2021 – Daniel J. Schwertfeger (Floyd Fire Department)
2022 – Daniel M. Crossway (Maynard Fire Department)
2023 – William R. Fries Sr. (Hammondsport Fire Department)
2024 – William J. Palmer Sr. (Ovid Fire Department/Croton Engine & Hose Co. #1)
2025 – Kevin O. Kalk (Barneveld Fire Department)
Presidential Achievement Award
This award, established in 2015, will be presented solely upon the recommendation of the NYSAFC president. It is intended to recognize special achievement that benefits the fire service or demonstrates outstanding effort by a chief, past chief, officer, or firefighter that goes above and beyond the normal course of duty.Recipients:
2015 – Ex-Chief Owen Magee (Hicksville Fire Department)
2015 – Chief Chris DePaoli (Irvington Fire Department)
2018 – New York State Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi
2018 – New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo
2018 – Firefighter Sean Patrick O’Gorman (City of Oswego Fire Department)
2019 – Chief Thomas C. Hetherington (NYS OFPC, Churchville Fire Department, & Middlesex Fire Department)
2019 – Chief Robert Hulse (Bay Shore Fire Department)
2021 – Assistant Chief/Paramedic Kurt Maytum (Fredonia Fire Department), Firefighter/EMT Patrick Ossman (City of Dunkirk Fire Department), 3rd Assistant Chief Adam Reisenweber (West Dunkirk Fire Department), Paramedic Mike Schwertfeger (Chautauqua County), Firefighter/EMT Tony Thomas (City of Dunkirk Fire Department), Firefighter/Medic Timothy Winters (Fredonia Fire Department), and Firefighter Jason Ziegler (West Dunkirk Fire Department)
2022 – Ex-Chief Thomas McGregor (Selden Fire Department)
2022 – Chief (Ret.)/Ex-Chief Thomas J. Richardson (FDNY/Deer Park Fire Department)
2023 – 2nd Assistant Chief Christopher Ciaccio (Commack Fire Department)