My name is Rylan Salas, and I’m a freshman at Arizona State University majoring in Business in Public Service and Policy. My career goal is to become a firefighter and someone who not only responds in moments of crisis, but who actively strengthens their community every day. This dream was sparked by my father, a firefighter for the Bakersfield Fire Department who has served others since before I was born. Growing up around fire stations and first responders, I quickly fell in love with the energy, courage, and purpose that come with this line of work. From a young age, I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps and dedicate my life to helping others. This calling has shaped everything about me, from my work as a lifeguard, to my athletic discipline, to my educational path. I served as a lifeguard at all four public pools in Bakersfield, California, where I grew up. More than just a job, lifeguarding was a way to actively serve my community during critical moments. I’ve had to rescue several swimmers from dangerous situations, including a 45-year-old man who was unconscious in the deep end. I administered CPR and oxygen until paramedics arrived; an experience that taught me how to stay calm under pressure and reinforced my desire to pursue a life-saving profession. In addition to lifeguarding, I taught swim lessons to children, many of whom had never been in a pool. What struck me most was how the ability to swim, something I took for granted, was a new potentially life saving skill I was teaching kids. Teaching those lessons became about more than water safety; it was about giving children confidence, freedom, and a memory that could last a lifetime. Some of them would run up to me before lessons, saying it was their favorite part of the day. Knowing I was creating those positive moments made the job incredibly meaningful. To gain further insight into the emergency services field, I’ve participated in firefighter ride-alongs, including calls where I observed the team respond to overdoses and other emergencies. These real-world experiences allowed me to see the intense dedication, precision, and teamwork required of firefighters. I saw firsthand the kind of responsibility they carry, and I left more committed than ever to joining their ranks. Outside of emergency work, I continue to give back by coaching for Kern Youth Rugby. I’ve played the sport for over a decade, and now I mentor young athletes and promote the sport in a city where it’s still growing. Rugby has taught me discipline, leadership, and how to work as part of a tight-knit team, values that directly translate to both firefighting and public service. I also use my role to help promote the program, using sport as a tool to connect with youth and build positive character. At Arizona State, I’ve embraced every opportunity to grow. I’m currently a starting player on the rugby team, serve as pledge president in my fraternity, and maintain a 3.96 GPA. Balancing academics, athletics, and leadership responsibilities has taught me the value of time management, accountability, and perseverance, qualities that will serve me well in my future career. Looking ahead, I plan to become EMT-certified and volunteer on an ambulance, gaining critical medical experience that will prepare me for firefighting. I also plan to apply to Tempe’s Firefighter Explorer Program to build hands-on knowledge while continuing my studies. My major in Business in Public Service and Policy is equipping me with the tools to not only respond to emergencies, but also help design better systems and policies that make communities safer and more resilient in the long run. This scholarship would help relieve financial stress, allowing me to focus fully on my education, training, and service. More importantly, it would support my mission to become a firefighter who leads with both skill and heart, someone who saves lives, mentors others, and improves the quality of life in the communities I serve. My life has always been about serving others, and now, as I work toward my career, that mission is stronger than ever. I’m not just preparing to be a firefighter, I am preparing to be a public servant who creates lasting impact wherever I go.

Selflessness is the conscious choice to prioritize the well-being of others over personal comfort or gain. For me, it is more than just a trait, it is a way of life. From working as a lifeguard to pursuing a future in firefighting, my actions reflect a deep desire to serve and protect those around me. I believe one of the greatest purposes we can fulfill is helping others in their moments of need. Being a lifeguard has offered many opportunities to act selflessly. The role goes far beyond simply watching over a pool. It demands constant vigilance, quick decision-making, and the readiness to respond in an instant. I’ve had to jump into action on several occasions to save children on the verge of drowning. In those moments, fear or discomfort never crossed my mind and my only focus was their safety. These experiences have shaped my character and deepened my commitment to putting others first. One of the most defining moments of my time as a lifeguard was when I rescued a 45-year-old man who had fallen unconscious in the deep end of the pool. I immediately dove in, pulled him out, and administered CPR and oxygen until paramedics arrived. He was unresponsive when I reached him, and every second counted. That moment reminded me of the weight of responsibility I carry every day. To me, that act of giving everything I had to help someone in their most vulnerable state was a pure expression of selflessness. But selflessness isn’t just found in single moments; it’s a daily commitment. Every time I’m on duty, I know that life could depend on me. The job requires sacrificing comfort, staying alert, and always being ready to act. I don’t do it for recognition, I do it because I genuinely care. Making a difference in someone’s life, even in a small way, gives my work purpose and meaning. This same desire to help others drives my ambition to become a firefighter. I see it as a natural extension of the path I’ve already chosen. Firefighters often arrive first during emergencies, risking their own safety to protect others. The job calls for courage, empathy, and a deep sense of service, all values I strive to live by every day. To prepare, I’ve participated in multiple firefighter ride-alongs. These experiences have only strengthened my commitment. During one call, I was present when a person had overdosed. Though I wasn’t yet a firefighter, I assisted the team however I could and saw firsthand how crucial quick, selfless action can be. Watching the firefighters work with focus and compassion affirmed that this is the path I want to pursue to serve my community in an even greater capacity. In everything I do, whether it’s rescuing someone from drowning, providing life-saving aid, or preparing for a future in firefighting; selflessness remains at the core. I act not out of obligation, but because I feel called to help, protect, and support those in need. With each life touched or saved, I’m reminded of why this value matters and why I choose to embody it every day.

I faced a large amount of adversity my first semester of college. I just finished my first semester of college at Arizona State University. I made it a goal of mine to become very involved throughout college but was unaware of the hardship being involved in multiple commitments brings. In this recent first semester I was apart of multiple different campus commitments that brought me a lot of hardship to keep my grades and mental health good. I am currently apart of our school's rugby team and was the pledge president of the fraternity I was planning to join. Being a pledge president for the semester meant I was in charge of 30 different guys, making sure they didn't make poor decisions and if they did make poor decisions, I would fix them. I also made sure everyone was where they needed to be 24/7, and answered to every need brought forth by our fraternity giving me a huge responsibility. This took up most of my time last semester and while playing sports and doing school work was horrible to say the least. But, I still managed to make it onto the starting team of my rugby club and ended the semester with a GPA of 3.96. One way I overcame the hardships of the semester were developing great time management skills. I cut out social media and the habit of living on my phone which a lot of people struggle with in this day and age. Cutting out the bad habits such as this one was what made me so much more capable to overcome the adversity I was dealing with and overall made me a better person because of it. I left the semester with a better mindset, better time management skills, more knowledge inside and out of the classroom and better physical health. I matured more in my first semester of college than I did throughout my whole high school career and an example of this maturity is me being aware enough to realize what I've done right and wrong and being able to use it to help other people become a better version of themselves. Some strong advice I would give to people struggling with any type of adversity would be to cut out any bad habits in their life. Bad habits are the root of adversity in a lot of situations so cutting them out will most likely solve any adversity someone is dealing with. Life is only getting more fast paced in today's world and causes people to resort to horrible habits to help them keep up with everyone else. But, bad habits might seem good in the present but always lead to a worse life down the road. So, take this advice and cut them out now, because it will only make life easier.

I grew up in Bakersfield, California, and started playing rugby at the beginning of middle school. What first pulled me into the sport was watching my twin brother play. He had already been playing rugby since elementary school, and seeing how much fun he was having made me want to be part of it. We both started playing for a small local team called Kern Youth Rugby. At that time, we didn’t win much. In fact, we lost… a lot. Losing regularly was tough, especially when we were putting in hours of practice and dedication. But looking back now, those early years were where I learned some of the most valuable lessons about resilience, perseverance, and loyalty to a team, even when the odds are stacked against you. As we entered high school, things started to shift. My brother and I began to stand out more, both in skill and in leadership. We were eventually recruited to play for an all-star team in Fresno and later joined a national-level high school team based in Florida called the Tampa Bay Stingrays. Playing for the Stingrays was a turning point in my rugby journey. We traveled across the country and played in elite tournaments, including the North American Invitational in Salt Lake City, where we placed fourth in the top bracket—a moment I’ll never forget. Competing against the best in the nation challenged me physically and mentally, but it also deepened my love for the game. After high school, I decided to continue my rugby journey at Arizona State University, where I am currently playing as a freshman. Playing at the collegiate level has reignited my passion for the sport in an entirely new way. The team is full of people from around the world—including England, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Kenya—which has shown me just how global the rugby community really is. Being part of this diverse group has not only expanded my understanding of the sport but also introduced me to different cultures, perspectives, and lifelong friendships. Rugby has had a deep impact on my character and how I approach life. I play scrum-half, or “9,” a position that demands agility, awareness, and quick decision-making. At 5 feet 7 inches and 150 pounds, I’m smaller than most players on the field, which has often meant taking twice the hits and fighting harder for recognition. There were times I questioned if rugby was the right sport for me. But facing that adversity gave me mental strength that I carry into every area of my life. It taught me how to push through self-doubt, handle challenges head-on, and stand tall in situations where I might feel outsized or underestimated. Rugby also taught me the value of community. Our hometown team, Kern Youth Rugby, wasn’t just a team—we were a family. We referred to ourselves as the “Kern family” because of how tightly bonded we were, even during those tough early years. That sense of belonging, of lifting each other and showing up for one another, has stayed with me. Rugby showed me how important it is to support people through their struggles, on and off the field. It helped shape me into someone who prioritizes others, values loyalty, and understands that real strength is just as much about heart as it is about physical strength. Looking back, rugby has shaped who I am. It’s made me tougher, more compassionate, and more driven. It taught me how to lead, listen, and how to be part of something bigger than myself. No matter where life takes me, rugby will always stay with me.

My name is Rylan Salas, and I am a freshman at Arizona State University majoring in Business of Public Service and Policy with a minor in Fire Science. My father has been a firefighter since before I was born, so I grew up around first responders and witnessed firsthand what it means to live a life of service. From a young age, I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps and make my own impact through a career that allows me to protect and uplift others. My career goal is to become a firefighter and a dedicated public servant who creates meaningful, lasting change in my community. At ASU, I’m developing the skills needed to lead, advocate, and implement real solutions that benefit the public not just in emergencies, but through proactive community efforts as well. This scholarship would directly support my ability to complete my education and pursue a future rooted in service and impact. To prepare for this path, I was a Fire Cadet for the City of Bakersfield throughout high school. That experience gave me hands-on exposure to the fire service early on and built the foundation for my passion and discipline. I also completed multiple firefighter ride-alongs, including one during an overdose call, where I supported first responders and saw the importance of quick, coordinated action in saving lives. My real-world experience also includes working as a certified lifeguard in Bakersfield. One of the most defining moments of my life was when I saved a 45-year-old man who had fallen unconscious in the deep end of the pool. I pulled him from the water and performed CPR and administered oxygen until EMTs arrived. That experience confirmed my ability to stay calm in a crisis and reaffirmed my desire to serve the public in life-or-death situations. Outside of emergency response, I volunteer as a youth rugby coach for Kern Youth Rugby in Bakersfield. With over ten years of experience playing the sport, I now mentor young athletes and help promote rugby in my community. Because the sport is still growing in the U.S., I also assist with outreach and advertising, using the game as a tool to teach character, discipline, and teamwork to the next generation. During my first semester at ASU, I balanced a 3.96 GPA while serving as pledge president of my fraternity and starting on the rugby team. The responsibility of overseeing 30 members, staying academically strong, and leading by example wasn’t easy. It took discipline, sacrifice, and the ability to manage pressure; traits that have helped me grow tremendously. I learned to cut out distractions and build better habits, and I now use what I’ve learned to help others become the best versions of themselves too. Every aspect of firefighting excites me, from emergency medical response to the sense of family and discipline within the station. I plan to become EMT-certified, volunteer on an ambulance, and apply to Tempe’s Firefighter Explorer Program to gain even more field experience during college. Firefighting is more than a job; it’s a calling that requires strength, compassion, and commitment. This scholarship would not only help ease the financial burden of higher education but also bring me closer to becoming the firefighter and public servant I’ve trained to be someone who will protect, lead, and make a real difference in their community every day.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a deeply rooted issue affecting individuals across all walks of life. Education plays a crucial role in preventing IPV before it starts. It not only teaches people to recognize the warning signs of abuse—such as manipulation, coercion, and emotional control, but also empowers them to set boundaries, seek help, and support others in need. One experience that left a permanent impact on me involved a close friend in high school named Lauren. She was in a relationship with someone who slowly became controlling, emotionally abusive, and eventually physically violent. I remember her coming to school with visible bruises and excuses that didn’t add up. She confided in me once, quietly admitting that things “got bad sometimes,” but she begged me not to tell anyone. We were both young and unsure of how to navigate something so serious. I didn’t know what to do, and tragically, we never got her the help she needed. Eventually, Lauren moved away, and I lost touch with her but that experience shaped my view on just how important education is in preventing IPV. When people are equipped to recognize the signs, take action, and support each other, it can mean the difference between silence and survival. Education also reduces stigma, encourages intervention, and builds a culture of protection and accountability, especially for young people still learning what a healthy relationship looks like. As a student majoring in Business with a concentration in Public Service and Policy at Arizona State University, I plan to use my education to support community health and safety. My ultimate goal is to become a firefighter, following in the footsteps of my father, who has served our community with honor and compassion. Growing up around firefighters showed me what true service looks like: selfless, courageous, and community-driven. My own life has already put those values to the test. As a certified lifeguard, I’ve saved numerous lives, including a 45-year-old man I revived with CPR and oxygen after he lost consciousness in the deep end of a pool. I’ve gone on firefighter ride-alongs, including responding to an overdose case, further proving to me that this career is more than just a calling; it’s my purpose. Outside of emergency response, I volunteer as a coach for Kern Youth Rugby, sharing over a decade of experience in the sport. Coaching gives me a chance to mentor young athletes and promote physical and mental strength, leadership, and respect which are values that help prevent cycles of violence and abuse from ever starting. During my first semester at Arizona State, I served as pledge president of my fraternity while also being a starting rugby player and full-time student. Balancing these commitments was difficult, but I ended the semester with a 3.96 GPA and stronger leadership, time management, and resilience than ever before. I plan to use my degree to go beyond emergency response and advocate for public education programs, outreach services, and policies that prevent IPV and support survivors. This scholarship would allow me to continue on that path, not only to serve on the front lines but to lead efforts that create lasting, positive change. My mission is to protect others—before, during, and after a crisis, and to help build a future where stories like Lauren’s are no longer ignored.

Statement 1 My career goal is to become a firefighter and a public servant who creates meaningful, lasting change in my community. I’m currently majoring in Business in Public Service and Policy at Arizona State University, where I’m learning how to lead, advocate, and implement solutions that benefit the public. This scholarship would directly support my ability to complete my degree and pursue a career rooted in service, both in emergency response and in broader community impact. My work as a lifeguard in Bakersfield has shaped who I am. I’ve saved numerous lives, including a 45-year-old man I resuscitated with CPR and oxygen until EMTs arrived. I’ve also supported firefighters on ride-alongs, including during an overdose call. These experiences have strengthened my decision-making, crisis management, and compassion; Skills that are central to both firefighting and public service. Beyond emergency response, I voluntarily coach for Kern Youth Rugby in Bakersfield. With over 10 years of experience playing the sport, I mentor young athletes and promote rugby in my community, a sport still growing in popularity in the U.S. I also help advertise and raise awareness, using sport as a tool to build character and connection among youth. In college, I’ve balanced leadership as fraternity pledge president, starting on the rugby team, and maintaining a 3.96 GPA. I overcame adversity through discipline, time management, and personal growth. This scholarship would ease financial burdens, allowing me to focus fully on my education and continue giving back through leadership, public service, and emergency response. Statement 2 Growing up, my father served as a firefighter, and I spent much of my childhood surrounded by first responders. Watching the way they showed up for others during their worst moments made a lasting impression on me. It taught me the importance of compassion, leadership, and public safety. All values I carry with me today. That upbringing instilled a deep sense of duty and a desire to follow in their footsteps. Bakersfield, the town I’m from in California, is not the best place to live. The quality of living here is much lower than most of California, giving me personal sight of hardships people face in their community including a dirty community that is hard to grow up in, lots of drugs that have ruined the lives of some of my closest friends, and the decreasing public quality of the community that has worsened many public amenities such as schools and parks. Seeing this grew my ambition to improve my community and give the next generation a nicer childhood than mine and the people around me. I believe this ambition aligned with ACHE’s mission to support public health, making me the perfect candidate for this scholarship. My goal is to continue serving, both on the front lines and through policy and leadership. ACHE SoCal’s mission to empower passionate, service-driven students aligns perfectly with my path, and this scholarship would bring me closer to realizing that purpose.

My name is Rylan Salas, and I am a student at Arizona State University with a deep commitment to serving others and making a lasting difference in my community. From saving lives as a lifeguard to leading others through difficult moments as a fraternity pledge president, my journey has been shaped by selflessness, personal growth, and resilience in the face of adversity. I am applying for this scholarship because it would support not only my education, but also my mission to become a firefighter and dedicate my life to helping those in need. Service has always been at the heart of who I am. As a certified lifeguard in Bakersfield, California, I’ve worked across four public pools, where I’ve saved numerous children from drowning and even performed CPR and administered oxygen to a 45-year-old man who fell unconscious in the deep end. These experiences taught me the value of staying calm under pressure and acting without hesitation. Being a lifeguard isn’t just a job, it’s a daily commitment to protecting others, often without thanks or recognition. The reward, for me, is in knowing that someone gets to walk away safely because I was there and ready to act. Inspired by this purpose, I have set my sights on becoming a firefighter. This profession represents the next level of responsibility and service—a way to help others not only in emergencies but throughout their lives. To better understand this role, I’ve gone on multiple firefighter ride-alongs, including one where I supported first responders during an overdose call. Being present in those intense moments reaffirmed my belief that I am meant to serve my community in the most direct and impactful way possible. Firefighting demands courage, compassion, and discipline which are all qualities I strive to embody every day. This commitment to helping others isn’t limited to emergencies. During my first semester at Arizona State, I faced intense personal adversity. Determined to stay involved on campus, I took on several major commitments, such as becoming a starting player for the rugby team and serving as the pledge president for the fraternity I was joining. Overseeing 30 fellow pledges, I was responsible for making sure everyone stayed on track and represented our group positively. That meant answering calls at all hours, managing crises, and constantly staying alert to prevent poor decisions. Balancing that responsibility with athletics and academics was exhausting, but I didn't give up. Despite the pressure, I finished my first semester with a 3.96 GPA and a much stronger sense of who I am. What helped me most was learning how to cut out distractions and bad habits. I removed social media from my life, broke free from time-wasting routines, and focused on what really mattered. This discipline helped me succeed and also taught me that adversity isn’t something to avoid but something to overcome with the right mindset. I matured more in that one semester than I did in four years of high school. Today, I use those lessons to help others grow and become better versions of themselves, just as I did. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my education and prepare for a career of lifelong service. I am ready to take everything I’ve learned about leadership, selflessness, time management, and resilience. I use all of these qualities to uplift others, especially during their toughest moments. Whether as a firefighter, a mentor, or a teammate, I will always strive to be someone my community can count on. That is my purpose, and this scholarship would help me fulfill it.

My name is Rylan Salas, I am from Bakersfield, CA and am currently a freshman at Arizona State University. I have played sports my whole life starting with T-ball at 4 years old. Throughout my athletic journey I have played many of the sports offered in my town including swimming, soccer, baseball, wrestling, track and field, football and rugby. All of which improved my physical health but I would really like to touch on two of these sports: rugby and wrestling, because they have shaped the type of man I am today. First rugby, I first discovered this sport in my town through a small club team and fell in love with it. I have been playing rugby the longest out of any sport and I am currently playing for Arizona State's rugby team today. From the time I started playing, I have played for 4 different teams, one of which played at a national high school level. I grew up around the sport and met many players from around the world. In the United States, rugby is not very well known so players from all around felt a unique connection to each other like no other sport I had played. In my town, we called our club a rugby family and not just the players, but the families, coaches, and sponsors were all very close to each other. The bond ultimately made our team better at the sport teaching me the importance of bonds. It taught me that having people who support you can make your life easier in so many ways. I love the sport and plan to play it as long as my body will let me. Rugby taught me to always be supportive to the people around you because of the impact it could have on them. The other sport that helped shape the man I am today is wrestling. Wrestling taught me skills that are harder for some people to learn in todays world such as discipline. Wrestling is physically the hardest sport I have ever done and everyday was just as hard as the last, making it very difficult to convince myself to even participate in the sport. Even showing up to practice taught me to put my feelings aside for the greater good which in that context, was getting better at the sport. I can use this to help people going through hard things in their life because I know how it feels to want to choose the easy path but I also know it is always worse in the long run. The other thing wrestling taught me was the fact that you will not always have people to help you in life. On the contrary to what rugby showed me, being on the mat against another person wrestling taught me that in the end, no one is going to help win and that it is something that you have to do yourself. It taught me to not rely on people to make my life easier. It had a huge impact on my family because I relied on my parents a lot for the mistakes I made in my life. After wrestling for a year, I stopped relying on my family so much and resolved my own problems making their lives and mine easier in the end.

I faced a large amount of adversity my first semester of college. I just finished my first semester of college at Arizona State University. I made it a goal of mine to become very involved throughout college but was unaware of the hardship being involved in multiple commitments brings. In this recent first semester I was apart of multiple different campus commitments that brought me a lot of hardship to keep my grades and mental health good. I am currently apart of our schools rugby team and was the pledge president of the fraternity I was planning to join. Being a pledge president for the semester meant I was in charge of 30 different guys, making sure they didn't make poor decisions and if they did make poor decisions, I would fix them. I also made sure everyone was where they needed to be 24/7, and answered to every need brought fourth by our fraternity giving me a huge responsibility. This took up most of my time last semester and while playing sports and doing school work was horrible to say the least. But, I still managed to make it onto the starting team of my rugby club and ended the semester with a GPA of 3.96. One way I overcame the hardships of the semester were developing great time management skills. I cut out social media and the habit of living on my phone which a lot of people struggle with in this day and age. Cutting out the bad habits such as this one was what made me so much more capable to overcome the adversity I was dealing with and overall made me a better person because of it. I left the semester with a better mindset, better time management skills, more knowledge inside and out of the classroom and better physical health. I matured more in my first semester of college than I did throughout my whole high school career and an example of this maturity is me being aware enough to realize what I've done right and wrong and being able to use it to help other people become a better version of themselves. Some strong advice I would give to people struggling with any type of adversity would be to cut out any bad habits in their life. Bad habits are the root of adversity in a lot of situations so cutting them out will most likely solve any adversity someone is dealing with. Life is only getting more fast paced in today's world and causes people to resort to horrible habits to help them keep up with everyone else. But, bad habits might seem good in the present but always lead to a worse life down the road. So, take this advice and cut them out now, because it will only make life easier.

Hello,my name is Rylan Salas and I am a Senior at Centennial High School. I have learned so many lessons being a Student-Athlete all throughout High School that include discipline,time-management,teamwork and dedication. Having these skills have not only made me better at the sports I play ,but have given me a strong base for the career I want to pursue. Throughout High School I have dedicated myself to multiple sports including JV football,Varsity Soccer and Varsity Wrestling. Each sport has taught me different skills and helped me grow into a different and better person by the end of them. JV football taught me how important dedication and hard-work are needed to succeed in life,Varsity Wrestling taught me the importance of discipline and dedication for the things you are passionate about and varsity Soccer taught me how teamwork and communication is always needed to reach your goals and passions. Being a student-Athlete is not easy by any means because it makes your schedule busier and drains your mental health. Being a student Athlete has given me a great work-ethic and an amazing drive to succeed. Being able to balance both school and sports has helped me so much and will give me important skills needed for the career I would like to pursue. Outside of sports I love volunteering for local Organizations in my community because of my passion to put others first. My other passion is saving lives which is why I want to pursue an education in emergency response but more specifically as a Firefighter. I plan to attend Arizona State University in the Fall Majoring in Business of Public Service and Safety. After I receive my Bachelor's Degree I immediately plan to start my training to become a firefighter and a certified EMT so that I can volunteer on an ambulance while training to pursue my career. I hope to get hired as soon as I can so I can start saving lives as early as possible. My experiences while being a student athlete has helped me for the physical and mental challenges it will bring to pursue this career ,but the skills I learned from these sports will help me to not only reach my goal of becoming a firefighter ,but to be the best firefighter I can possibly be. As a firefighter I hope to leave a great impact on my society and help others when their life is in danger.

Hello,my name is Rylan Salas and I am a Senior at Centennial High School. I have learned so many lessons being a Student-Athlete all throughout High School that include discipline,time-management,teamwork and dedication. Having these skills have not only made me better at the sports I play ,but have given me a strong base for the career I want to pursue. Throughout High School I have dedicated myself to multiple sports including JV football,Varsity Soccer and Varsity Wrestling. Each sport has taught me different skills and helped me grow into a different and better person by the end of them. JV football taught me how important dedication and hard-work are needed to succeed in life,Varsity Wrestling taught me the importance of discipline and dedication for the things you are passionate about and varsity Soccer taught me how teamwork and communication is always needed to reach your goals and passions. Being a student-Athlete is not easy by any means because it makes your schedule busier and drains your mental health. Being a student Athlete has given me a great work-ethic and an amazing drive to succeed. Being able to balance both school and sports has helped me so much and will give me important skills needed for the career I would like to pursue. Outside of sports I love volunteering for local Organizations in my community because of my passion to put others first. My other passion is saving lives which is why I want to pursue an education in emergency response but more specifically as a Firefighter. I plan to attend Arizona State University in the Fall Majoring in Business of Public Service and Safety. After I receive my Bachelor's Degree I immediately plan to start my training to become a firefighter and a certified EMT so that I can volunteer on an ambulance while training to pursue my career. I hope to get hired as soon as I can so I can start saving lives as early as possible. My experiences while being a student athlete has helped me for the physical and mental challenges it will bring to pursue this career ,but the skills I learned from these sports will help me to not only reach my goal of becoming a firefighter ,but to be the best firefighter I can possibly be. As a firefighter I hope to leave a great impact on my society and help others when their life is in danger.

My name is Rylan Salas and I am a senior at Centennial High School in Bakersfield, California. My father has been a firefighter since before I was born so I have grown up around first responders my whole life. I immediately fell in love with the career the moment I saw a firetruck for the first time and made it my passion to save lives. I grew up as an athletic child and have always been keen on the outdoors. Right now, I play rugby for 2 different teams at a d1 level and have a full weightlifting and diet routine. I also enjoy doing every type of outdoor activity you can think of including surfing, snowboarding, running, hiking, and biking. I am also a very religious person and go to church frequently as well as read the bible on my own time. Cooking is another passion of mine because I want to be a great cook when I am a father to my kids. Cooking is also an essential skill needed in a fire station because firefighters cook their food most of the time. I am serve as a lifeguard for my city as well as teach swim lessons for children who don’t know how to swim. I really enjoy working as a lifeguard because I always have wanted to save lives. I also love teaching swim lessons because I believe swimming is a skill everyone should have and I am happy to share my knowledge with everyone I can. Every aspect of firefighting intrigues me because there is so much to learn. I love the idea of being able to fight fires for my community, especially if I can save someone’s life doing so. I also love the EMT aspect of being a firefighter because you can fight fires while being trained the same as someone who responds to 911 calls in an ambulance. There are also a lot of other skills that come with fire fighting like working with a team and having people’s backs. There are A, B, and C shifts for fire fighting and each shift acts as essentially a team you are given. This allows you to grow and bond with your crewmates and develop great teamwork skills. You also become very responsible working in a fire station which is another reason why I want to be a firefighter. Firefighters usually work for days on end so they have to treat their workplace like their home. They do this by cleaning every day in and out to keep their station looking new which builds great responsibility. I plan to study Business of public safety and services at Arizona State University in the fall which will help me pursue my career of becoming a firefighter. I also plan to become EMT certified and volunteer in an ambulance in my free time as well as sign up for Tempe’s Firefighter Explorer program to get on-the-job experience as I am in school. Firefighting is such a rewarding career and this scholarship will help me become closer to achieving my dream.

My name is Rylan Salas and I am a Senior at Centennial High School. I have grown up going to Church since I was Baptized as a baby and have always loved God and my faith. My religion is a very big part of my life because it aims to put love first and to love God above all. Jesus died on the cross because he thought to put everyone else before him and save us all. I think it is great to have the same mindset as Jesus because he always preached to love everyone else and put God first. By putting God first it also reminds me to put others before me and always try to lend a helping hand in my community. I am a lifeguard for my city and have already tried to lend a helping hand to my community by making our public pools available to everyone, especially in Summer. I also teach swim lessons because I believe the skill of swimming can save someone’s life and is a very important skill to have. That is one way I put other people first in my community and remind myself of my faith to put others and most importantly God first. Every aspect of firefighting intrigues me because there is so much to learn. I love the idea of being able to fight fires for my community, especially if I can save someone’s life doing so. I am going to be attending Arizona State University in the fall for business in Public Safety and Services but after that, I am going straight into training to become a firefighter to start saving lives as early as I can. I will also get my EMT certification as soon as I graduate from college so that I can volunteer in an ambulance while I am training to become a firefighter. Firefighting also constantly reminds me of my faith in putting others first because the whole job revolves around responding to other people’s needs. Firefighters also make their community a better place by keeping their community and people in it as safe as possible. I will always follow my faith to put God first and others first before myself, and that is one way I will make the world a better place through my career and faith. Firefighting is such a rewarding career and being granted this scholarship will help me so much to follow my faith and make our world a better place.

My name is Rylan Salas and I am a senior at Centennial High School in Bakersfield, California. My father has been a firefighter since before I was born so I have grown up around first responders my whole life. I immediately fell in love with the career the moment I saw a firetruck for the first time and made it my passion to save lives. I grew up as an athletic child and have always been keen on the outdoors. Right now, I play rugby for 2 different teams at a d1 level and have a full weightlifting and diet routine. I also enjoy doing every type of outdoor activity you can think of including surfing, snowboarding, running, hiking, and biking. I am also a very religious person and go to church frequently as well as read the bible on my own time. Cooking is another passion of mine because I want to be a great cook when I am a father to my kids. Cooking is also an essential skill needed in a fire station because firefighters cook their food most of the time. Every aspect of firefighting intrigues me because there is so much to learn. I love the idea of being able to fight fires for my community, especially if I can save someone’s life doing so. I also love the EMT aspect of being a firefighter because you can fight fires while being trained the same as someone who responds to 911 calls in an ambulance. There are also a lot of other skills that come with fire fighting like working with a team and having people’s backs. There are A, B, and C shifts for fire fighting and each shift acts as essentially a team you are given. This allows you to grow and bond with your crewmates and develop great teamwork skills. You also become very responsible working in a fire station which is another reason why I want to be a firefighter. Firefighters usually work for days on end so they have to treat their workplace like their home. They do this by cleaning every day in and out to keep their station looking new which builds great responsibility. I plan to study Business of public safety and services at Arizona State University in the fall which will help me pursue my career of becoming a firefighter. I also plan to become EMT certified and volunteer in an ambulance in my free time as well as sign up for Tempe’s Firefighter Explorer program to get on-the-job experience as I am in school. Firefighting is such a rewarding career and this scholarship will help me become closer to achieving my dream.

My name is Rylan Salas and I am a senior at Centennial High School in Bakersfield, California. My father has been a firefighter since before I was born so I have grown up around first responders my whole life. I immediately fell in love with the career the moment I saw a firetruck for the first time and made it my passion to save lives. I grew up as an athletic child and have always been keen on the outdoors. Right now, I play rugby for 2 different teams at a d1 level and have a full weightlifting and diet routine. I also enjoy doing every type of outdoor activity you can think of including surfing, snowboarding, running, hiking, and biking. I am also a very religious person and go to church frequently as well as read the bible on my own time. Cooking is another passion of mine because I want to be a great cook when I am a father to my kids. Cooking is also an essential skill needed in a fire station because firefighters cook their food most of the time. Every aspect of firefighting intrigues me because there is so much to learn. I love the idea of being able to fight fires for my community, especially if I can save someone’s life doing so. I also love the EMT aspect of being a firefighter because you can fight fires while being trained the same as someone who responds to 911 calls in an ambulance. There are also a lot of other skills that come with fire fighting like working with a team and having people’s backs. There are A, B, and C shifts for fire fighting and each shift acts as essentially a team you are given. This allows you to grow and bond with your crewmates and develop great teamwork skills. You also become very responsible working in a fire station which is another reason why I want to be a firefighter. Firefighters usually work for days on end so they have to treat their workplace like their home. They do this by cleaning every day in and out to keep their station looking new which builds great responsibility. I plan to study Business of public safety and services at Arizona State University in the fall which will help me pursue my career of becoming a firefighter. I also plan to become EMT certified and volunteer in an ambulance in my free time as well as sign up for Tempe’s Firefighter Explorer program to get on-the-job experience as I am in school. Firefighting is such a rewarding career and this scholarship will help me become closer to achieving my dream.

My name is Rylan Salas and I am a senior at Centennial High School in Bakersfield, California. My father has been a firefighter since before I was born so I have grown up around first responders my whole life. I immediately fell in love with the career the moment I saw a firetruck for the first time and made it my passion to save lives. I grew up as an athletic child and have always been keen on the outdoors. Right now, I play rugby for 2 different teams at a d1 level and have a full weightlifting and diet routine. I also enjoy doing every type of outdoor activity you can think of including surfing, snowboarding, running, hiking, and biking. I am also a very religious person and go to church frequently as well as read the bible on my own time. Cooking is another passion of mine because I want to be a great cook when I am a father to my kids. Cooking is also an essential skill needed in a fire station because firefighters cook their food most of the time. Every aspect of firefighting intrigues me because there is so much to learn. I love the idea of being able to fight fires for my community, especially if I can save someone’s life doing so. I also love the EMT aspect of being a firefighter because you can fight fires while being trained the same as someone who responds to 911 calls in an ambulance. There are also a lot of other skills that come with fire fighting like working with a team and having people’s backs. There are A, B, and C shifts for fire fighting and each shift acts as essentially a team you are given. This allows you to grow and bond with your crewmates and develop great teamwork skills. You also become very responsible working in a fire station which is another reason why I want to be a firefighter. Firefighters usually work for days on end so they have to treat their workplace like their home. They do this by cleaning every day in and out to keep their station looking new which builds great responsibility. I plan to study Business of public safety and services at Arizona State University in the fall which will help me pursue my career of becoming a firefighter. I also plan to become EMT certified and volunteer in an ambulance in my free time as well as sign up for Tempe’s Firefighter Explorer program to get on-the-job experience as I am in school. Firefighting is such a rewarding career and this scholarship will help me become closer to achieving my dream.