My name is Wyatt Chollman and I plan on transferring to Idaho State University to finish my Bachelors Degree in Fire Services Administration. My dream career would be to become a Seattle Firefighter in addition to joining the U.S. Army Reserves as an Officer after I finish my degree. Ever since I was a kid I have always wanted to be a firefighter. As I got older and learned more about the career, I decided to join the Seattle Fire Department Cadet Program to gain hands on experience. I knew after 10 seconds of observing the Seattle Fires training facilities that I was going to try to become a Seattle Firefighter. It was not only the firetrucks and cool gear the firefighters had that drew me in, it was how they carried themselves. I had never seen a group of more put together and responsible individuals in my life. They were incredibly intelligent, firm, but also seemed very compassionate and down to earth. I knew as a young man that was the kind of person I wanted to become. I have always wanted to serve my country and joining as an Officer in the military would give me great leadership skills that I can use throughout my life and military service. I initially did not see the active duty military path fitting into my life in my years after college but after learning more about the Army Reserve route, I was excited at the possibility of serving my country in another capacity. My Dad was in the Army and he inspired me to serve as well. He always told me story's about being in the Army and all the adventures he went on. He has given me great guidance and has encouraged me to become an Officer. I am lucky to have a veteran as a Dad. I was a member of the track and field team at the University of Washington but was released from the team due to circumstances out of my control. I was 2 months into my school and track and field when my coach and head coach told me a new lawsuit was being proposed that would limit roster spots at the D1 level. I was told by my the coach who recruited me that if I did not throw a certain distance I would be cut. I knew I had to focus and throw the distance I needed to keep my spot. Unfortunately 2 weeks after that meeting with my coaches, I suffered a season ending injury that required surgery. This setback taught me to always stay resilient despite adversity. I had never felt so powerless before in my life, but I knew I would be alright. This summer I am going to be a first time wildland firefighter for the Washington Department of Natural Resources starting in late May. Out of all the public service careers, being a firefighter, both wildland and structural has always resonated with me. I have been a lifeguard for the past 3 years and have loved being able to help people and protect lives. I have always wanted to join something bigger than myself and I can't think of anything better than the Military. Whether it's being a lifeguard, wildland firefighter, or Army Officer, helping serve and protect has always been my life goal no matter what. Overall, I want to live a meaningful life where I give back and help people as much as I can. Thank you for your consideration. -Wyatt Chollman

My experience as a Seattle Fire Department Cadet channeled my desire to become a firefighter paramedic. This might not be a formal education, but it has taught me more about myself and has guided my future career goals better than typical education ever has. In the program I reported weekly to the Seattle Fire Department's Training Facility. I knew I wanted to become a firefighter paramedic since high school. Being a firefighter paramedic felt like the perfect fit for me. I also knew I wanted to learn more about the career hands-on, before settling on that path. My first day as a cadet, I noticed how put-together all the firefighters were. The fire engines and equipment were really cool, though it was the behavior of the firefighters that drew me in. I could tell by talking with them how sharp they were. Being surrounded by this group of individuals helped shape me into the person I wanted to become. Something that helped make the experience authentic was getting our own bunker gear and equipment. One of our instructors was on the Seattle Fire's Wildland Crew. One day he brought a wildland brush truck to our meeting. He was a wildland firefighter in Alaska and was really passionate about it. He highly recommended it to our class. This spring, I applied and was hired as a Wildland Firefighter with the Washington Department of Natural Resources in Northern Washington. This is going to be a tough and dirty job, but I know I will love every second of it. Working physical labor in sweltering heat for 16-hour days, covered in sweat and dust, fighting wildfires is going to be an amazing way to spend my summer. This guidance in the program has allowed me to pursue opportunity's like being a wildland firefighter. I feel that formal education does a great job at helping guide students interested in STEM jobs, but it does not allow people interested in other interests the same resources. The cadet program has also influenced my choice of degree. Being a firefighter does not require a degree. However, having a fire science degree will help me get promoted and rise through the ranks. This fall, I will be attending Idaho State University to study fire service administration. I know having this degree will give me a leg up throughout my career. My parents have always encouraged me and my siblings to be highly educated so we can have more opportunity. My favorite element was the search and rescue drills. One week, our instructors used fake smoke to fill the training structure to simulate a house fire. We were unable to see while being in full gear and breathing on SCBA air. During search and rescue training, we were finding heavy dummies that we had to drag out. That drill taught me the immense physical grit and mental clarity you need for the job. Though this education experience was not only physical. We logged countless hours in the classroom learning about fire science, fire department structure, and learning how our equipment functions. If you fully understand how your SCBA works in a fire, you will be able to work the problem better if it malfunctions, most likely saving your life. My favorite classroom activity we did was analyzing a house fire in Seattle that was caught on traffic camera in a great view. Our Captain explained what was happening and what all the firefighters were doing when fighting the fire. He explained why they parked their fire engines and ladder trucks the locations they did, why they attacked the fire a certain way, and what went wrong and right. This classroom education was invaluable to me in my learning about the fire service. There were also veterans in our program to help instruct us and they let us know that veterans get preference points on hiring exams. I plan on becoming an Army Officer in the reserves after college. Due to the fire department being a paramilitary organization, former military members often excel. I am confident that the leadership skills I would develop would make me a better firefighter. This would also enable me to rise through the ranks sooner. Being in the program has helped shape my goals better than typical schooling has ever done. The cadet program even helped craft new goals I now have in life and my career. I feel empowered to take on life challenges after being in the program. I'm excited about studying fire science next fall. To further my education is something I am incredibly excited about. Completing my fire service administration degree will allow me to pursue the Army Reserve Officer route and get promoted faster in the fire service. This further education will open doors in my life in ways that other things will not be able to. I know that the information I learn in my degree will make me a better firefighter paramedic and leader in the fire service. I would use the scholarship money to help pay for my fire service administration degree.

My experience as a Seattle Fire Department Cadet channeled my desire to become a firefighter paramedic. I reported weekly to the Seattle Fire Department's Training Facility. I knew I wanted to become a firefighter paramedic since high school. Like Jore, I always wanted to help people and make an impact. Being a firefighter paramedic felt like the perfect fit for me. I also knew I wanted to learn more about the career hands-on, before settling on that path. My first day as a cadet, I noticed how put-together all the firefighters were. The fire engines and equipment were really cool, though it was the behavior of the firefighters that drew me in. I could tell by talking with them how sharp they were. Being surrounded by this group of individuals helped shape me into the person I wanted to become. Something that helped make the experience authentic was getting our own bunker gear and equipment. One of our instructors was on the Seattle Fire's Wildland Crew. One day he brought a wildland brush truck to our meeting. He was a wildland firefighter in Alaska and was really passionate about it. He highly recommended it to our class. This spring, I applied and was hired as a Wildland Firefighter with the Washington Department of Natural Resources in Northern Washington. This is going to be a tough and dirty job, but I know I will love every second of it. Working physical labor in sweltering heat for 16-hour days, covered in sweat and dust, fighting wildfires is going to be an amazing way to spend my summer. The cadet program has also influenced my choice of degree. Being a firefighter does not require a degree. However, having a fire science degree will help me get promoted and rise through the ranks. This fall, I will be attending Idaho State University to study fire service administration. I know having this degree will give me a leg up throughout my career. My favorite element was the search and rescue drills. One week, our instructors used fake smoke to fill the training structure to simulate a house fire. We were unable to see while being in full gear and breathing on SCBA air. During search and rescue training, we were finding heavy dummies that we had to drag out. That drill taught me the immense physical grit and mental clarity you need for the job. There were also veterans in our program to help instruct us and they let us know that veterans get preference points on hiring exams. I plan on becoming an Army Officer in the reserves after college. Due to the fire department being a paramilitary organization, former military members often excel. I am confident that the leadership skills I would develop would make me a better firefighter. This would also enable me to rise through the ranks sooner. I'm excited about studying fire science next fall. The J.L. Lund Memorial Scholarship would help finance my education and aid my community.

As a child, the idea of becoming a firefighter was always my dream. My family has had numerous experiences with the fire department growing up. From an oven fire to a suspected gas leak, seeing the Firefighters being calm and reassuring during someone's worst day was a unique contrast. These experiences gave me the initial drive to become a firefighter. Entering high school, I knew I wanted to help people, I just did not know my path yet. I was interested in medicine and considered becoming a doctor. However, something inside me was telling me this was not my path. A few months later, during the middle of the night, I heard a commotion outside my room. My dad was clutching his chest leaning over his bed with my mom comforting him. My mom said that my dad might be having a heart attack and that the paramedics were en route. A few minutes later paramedics arrived and began to hook my dad up to machines and get him down to the hospital. After witnessing firsthand the paramedics save my dad, I realized that is what I wanted to do. I quickly learned about being a firefighter paramedic and it was the perfect mix of medical knowledge and hands-on firefighter role I always wanted to do. That summer I applied for the Seattle Fire Department Cadet Program and was accepted. The program was run at the Seattle Fire Department's training academy with a Seattle Fire Captain and Firefighters running it as instructors. We were given our own bunker gear and tools which were the same ones the fire academy recruits used. We were able to use SCBA's, do forcible entry, spray real fire hoses, and ride in the Seattle Fire Trucks. My favorite thing we did was search and rescue drills. One week our instructors used fake smoke to fill our training structure so you couldn't even see in front of you in order to simulate a house fire. We were in full gear and on SCBA air doing search and rescue finding dummies we had to drag out. That drill taught me the immense physical and mental clarity you need to do the job. Becoming a Seattle Firefighter is incredibly competitive, roughly 1 percent of applicants who apply go on to become Seattle Firefighters. I knew I needed to start building my resume right away. Like Skylar, I was also enrolled in the Running Start program because I wanted to start my college education sooner. I also plan to join the Army Reserves as an Officer to further develop my leadership skills. Graduating with a Fire Service Administration degree would help me advance quickly, and my Army Officer experience would help demonstrate my leadership abilities. Developing first aid experience is also crucial to being a firefighter paramedic so I became a lifeguard which I have been doing for 3 years now. One of our instructors also introduced us to wildland firefighting which he did for a while. Growing up in Washington I have seen the direct impacts of wildfires on people, property, and our beautiful landscapes. I applied in February and was offered a job to be a Wildland Firefighter for the WA DNR this summer in Northern Washington. This job will be difficult, but the grit it will develop will help aid my future military service and fire academy mental fortitude. Like Skylar, my drive to help people and make an impact in my community is what motivates me. I plan on using the money to help pay for my Fire Service Administration Degree at Idaho State University.