FAMA Awards Scholarship to University of Maryland Student

Chicago, IL-- August 28, 2010 – The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association has awarded its 2010 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship to University of Maryland student Jonathan Worden.

Worden, a senior from Franklin, NY majoring in fire protection engineering, received a $3,000 scholarship in recognition of his outstanding academic achievement and commitment to the fire service. The award is given annually by FAMA and is sponsored this year by FAMA member Akron Brass Co., a worldwide manufacturer of high-performance fire fighting and rescue equipment. A presentation was made today at the FAMA Technical Committee meeting held in conjunction with the Fire-Rescue International show in Chicago, IL.

"Along with Jonathan's impressive academic record, it is his support to and active involvement in the student chapters of fire rescue associations and his future ambitions that made him the best candidate for this scholarship," said Tammy Laridaen, member of the FAMA Education Committee. "Jonathan's dream to one day start his own business in fire equipment design and manufacturing will be made possible only with the determination he has shown thus far in the fire protection area, and we are pleased to award him this year's FAMA scholarship."

Tom Hudak, president of Akron Brass, shared: "Akron Brass and FAMA are committed to support education of our youth. Jonathan epitomizes the potential of young people with the potential to positively impact our industry."

Worden came from a family that was very closely linked to fire protection. His grandfather has been a member of the fire service for 60 years, and his father has followed his footsteps as he has been serving for over 35 years, the last 15 as department chief. Jonathan started with the department back in September of 2001 as an explorer, becoming a department member at the age of 16 in 2003.

Although Jonathan successfully completed his firefighter training classes before his high school graduation, his aspirations were to advance to the level of science and technology at the University of Maryland in order to provide life safety to the public. His ambition to focus on understanding societal responses to emergency events such as fire incidents, terrorist attacks and natural disasters, as well as new types of evacuation systems and methods, will serve the fire industry well.

About FAMA

The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association is a non-profit trade association committed to enhancing the quality of the emergency service community through the manufacture and sale of safe, efficient emergency-response vehicles and equipment. For more information, visit www.fama.org.

Published September 23, 2010