PGFD Firefighter/Medic Presented With Honeywell Scholarship to Attend FDIC

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

Honeywell, in personal fire protective equipment industry, and UL, whose Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI) is dedicated to reducing injuries and deaths in the fire service, announced Wednesday, February 18 they are awarding a financial scholarship to Prince George's County Fire Fighter/Medic Sara A. Shaffer to attend the 2015 FDIC trade show.

"The FDIC Trade Show is the industry's most important North American training event and trade show, yet fire departments often simply cannot afford to send as many firefighters as they would like to the show," said Jeff Morris, president of Honeywell First Responder Products.

"Honeywell and UL want to help by creating an easy contest, allowing firefighters to nominate a deserving colleague with a short video, taken with their phone, explaining why they are nominating a fellow firefighter for the program."  Fire Fighter/Medic Shaffer was nominated by Fire Fighter/Medic Technician Katherine "Katie" Fisher.


The FDIC scholarship program prize includes:

• Round-trip airfare

• Accommodation

• Passes to attend all classes and FDIC exhibits

• Breakfast voucher

• Invitation to inauguration dinner

The Honeywell-UL scholarship program is an effort to address the challenge fire departments face, with tight budgets, to send firefighters to the industry’s premier safety and training event. Shaffer will receive admission to FDIC classroom training, seminars, and exhibits, along with travel and accommodation expenses for the entire event.

Fire Fighter/Medic Shaffer was presented her scholarship at a surprise visit to a 12-lead ECG class being held at  the Firefighters and Paramedics Association, IAFF Local 1619, Headquarters in Bowie, MD.  Honeywell Sr. Regional Manager Chad Sears made the presentation and stated, "Sara is one of 17 firefighters selected to receive this scholarship from over 1,100 nominations. Congratulations!!!"

You may recognize Sara Shaffer as she was the Gold Medal recipient and Fire Fighter of the Year for Prince Georges County in and the American Legion National Fire Fighter of the Year in 2014.

L to R - Fire Fighter/Medic Sara A. Shaffer, Chad Sears/Honeywell, Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor, IAFF Local 1619 President Andrew Pantelis, Battalion Chief Charles Waggoner