Two NVFC Members Receive Columbia Southern University Scholarship to Achieve Their Educational Goals

To improve volunteer first responders’ access to high-quality online education, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has partnered with Columbia Southern University (CSU) for the 16th year to award two NVFC members scholarships to CSU. Each scholarship will cover up to 60 credit hours towards any one of CSU’s online degree programs. This year’s recipients are Levi Robbins of Pleasant Hill, OH, and Ellen Yarborough of Wallingford, PA.

Levi Robbins

Levi Robbins began volunteering in the fire and emergency services at age 17. He’s remained dedicated to the fire service ever since. Today, he wears many hats in his role as the assistant chief of EMS at Pleasant Hill Newton Township Fire & EMS. His responsibilities include quality assurance and quality improvement of NFIRS and NEMIS exports, grant writing, EMS billing administration, training coordination, and IT support for the entire organization.

To Robbins, this scholarship represents his commitment to his department, community, and the volunteer fire service as a whole. By obtaining a bachelor’s degree in fire administration, he hopes to elevate his and his agency’s capabilities, network with experienced professionals, and stay updated on the latest advancements in the field.

“Attending college as a blue-collar worker and volunteer firefighter is uncommon,” admits Robbins. “[But] the knowledge I gain will not only benefit my department, it will also help me develop innovative ways to serve our community more effectively.”

Ellen Yarborough

While Ellen Yarborough joined the volunteer fire service later in life, she quickly became a certified firefighter/EMT, leader in recruitment and retention at her department, and, eventually, a chief officer. She now is well known throughout the fire service – both locally for her “Schoolhouse to Firehouse” junior recruitment program, and nationally for her Leadership in Supervision course at the National Fire Academy. However, she believes there is still work to be done.

“I consult with fire departments and schools through my ‘Schoolhouse to Firehouse’ program, but I realize that my efforts will be more impactful if I have more data-backed evidence and rely less on anecdotal evidence,” said Yarborough.

With the scholarship, Yarborough will pursue a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She hopes  this will help her navigate the fire service as more of a business and add “polish” to her voice.

“[This degree] program has been on my radar; however, cost has been a barrier, in particular because I have two children enrolled in college,” explains Yarborough. “The scholarship will remove that barrier and enable me to engage in the program without concern about financing completion.”

For more information on the NVFC scholarship, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/NVFC. In addition to eligibility to apply for the scholarship, NVFC members receive a waived application fee and 10 percent tuition discount.

About Columbia Southern University
As an innovator in online education for 30 years, CSU was established to provide an alternative to the traditional university experience. CSU offers online associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees such as business administration, criminal justice, fire administration, and occupational safety and health. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more. NVFC members and their families receive a 10% discount on tuition.

About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.