News

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recently partnered with Columbia Southern University (CSU) to award scholarships to two NVFC members to attend CSU. The recipients were selected based on a competitive application process open to all NVFC members. James Longbrake of Ponder, TX, was awarded a two-year scholarship towards a bachelor’s degree program and Brian McNevin of Commerce, TX, received a two-year scholarship towards an associate’s degree program. Both scholarships were donated by CSU and include tuition and books.

 

"We are very pleased to partner with Columbia Southern University to offer these two scholarship opportunities to our members," said NVFC Executive Director Heather Schafer. “We thank everyone who applied for these scholarships and applaud their dedication to their departments and their education. We have every confidence that James Longbrake and Brian McNevin will use these scholarships to reach their full academic potential at CSU and ultimately enhance the knowledge and foundation of their departments.”

 

One of the nation’s first online universities, CSU offers a wide range of degree programs in a variety of fields including fire science, business administration, human resource management, and more. With its flexible learning format, open enrollment, and self-paced programs, earning a degree is achievable for those with even the busiest and most unpredictable schedules. The format is ideal for volunteer firefighters, who are juggling the fire service, full-time jobs, family, and other responsibilities.

 

“We would like to extend a special thanks to each of the NVFC members who submitted scholarship entries,” said CSU Vice President of Partnership Development and Admissions Chantell Cooley.  “Reading your compelling stories truly deepened our dedication to fire service education.”

 

James Longbrake is a Lieutenant and Assistant Instructor with the Ponder Volunteer Fire Department and plans to use the scholarship to help achieve his goal of obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science. He ultimately intends to earn a Master’s degree in either Emergency Management or Public Safety Administration.

 

“My duty to the fire service requires me to remain vigilant in my pursuit in training and education, and to teach or relay this information to my fellow firefighters,” Longbrake said of his reasons for pursuing his Bachelor’s degree. “I do this for the protection of my community and for the protection of my fellow firefighters.”

 

In addition to being a volunteer firefighter, Longbrake is also a career firefighter with the Krum Fire Department, a combination department that utilizes both volunteers and career personnel to provide professional services to the community. With his busy schedule, Longbrake sees CSU as the solution to obtaining his educational goals while still balancing the many commitments in his life.

 

“The programs offered by Columbia Southern University are structured so as to allow me to remain close to my wife and our three children and still provide for them and our household while nevertheless reaching my goals,” he said. “They will also allow me to be in the area for the fire department. Using independent study, I will be able to break away at a moment’s notice and respond to my communities’ emergencies and later return to continue my coursework.”

 

Brian McNevin is the Fire Chief of the Commerce Fire Department and will use his scholarship to complete an Associate’s degree in Fire Science. He then plans to continue his studies and receive a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. Ultimately, McNevin hopes to complete the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and apply for Chief Fire Officer Designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing.

 

McNevin sees the scholarship and his educational goals as an opportunity to enhance his own leadership and management skills as well as encourage other department members to always strive for more. “Completing these programs would allow me to mentor our personnel in having a vision to always learn, educate, and improve themselves to serve others in a greater capacity,” he said.

 

In addition to the scholarships, CSU offers all NVFC members, as well as their spouses and children, a 10 percent discount on tuition. The $25 application fee is also waived. If you are not an NVFC member, join at www.nvfc.org/membership. To learn more about CSU or apply for enrollment with the NVFC member discount, visit www.columbiasouthern.edu/alliances.