Fire and EMS Academy Scholarship

Hello, my name is Jaylin Foster. I am a 21-year-old firefighter/EMT. I have been working as a firefighter for three years and currently juggling four part-time jobs across different departments. While the schedule is demanding, I do it to support myself, my girlfriend, and our pets. This career is not just a job to me; it's a calling, and I'm determined to grow in it and become the best I can be. I graduated from Hilliard Davidson High School and Tolles Career and Technical Center in 2021, where I completed the Fire and EMS program during my junior and senior years. After graduation, I earned my Level 2 Fighter certification. Unfortunately, due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I was not able to obtain my EMT certification at the same time. I finally achieved that goal in December 2024, and ever since, I've been focused on taking the next step: paramedic school. In my state, paramedic training programs cost between $6,000 and $10,000, which is currently out of reach financially. Despite working multiple jobs, the high cost of tuition combined with basic living expenses has made saving for school extremely difficult. I am applying for this grant because I see it as a crucial opportunity- not only to help me afford paramedic school but also to allow me to transition from part-time work to a full-time career in the fire service. Becoming a paramedic would open the door for me to provide more advanced patient care, further my career in the fire service, and hopefully one day become an EMS instructor. It is a requirement for a full-time position at most fire departments in my state, and earning that title would allow me to build a more stable future for me, my girlfriend, and our future family. With only three years in the fire service, I've already learned an incredible amount not only through hands-on experience but also from the knowledge shared by my coworkers. One of the things I love most about this career is that no two days are the same. Being a firefighter never feels like work to me. I truly believe firefighting is the best job in the world. I am hard-working, motivated, and ready to take the next step in my career. This grant would not only ease the financial burden of school but would also bring me closer to fulfilling my long-term goal of becoming a full-time firefighter/paramedic. Thank you for considering my application.