Photo by Jean Falbo-Sosnovitch
(Back row, left to right) Fire Chief Michael Lombardi, volunteer Randi Lewis, Jon Kramer-Earley, Payton Hannon, Lt. Angel Hernandez and Capt. Jon Rollinson. (Front row, kneeling, left to right): Citizens President Ron Burgess and Lt. John Hannon
SEYMOUR — Citizens Engine Co. No. 2 continued its decades-old tradition this month of helping local students cut costs as they head off to college.
Fire Chief Michael Lombardi, Lt. John Hannon and several members of the volunteer fire department handed out nearly $3,000 in annual scholarships during a brief ceremony Wednesday (Aug. 11) at the firehouse.
Two of the four recipients — all 2021 graduates of Seymour High School — were on hand to accept their scholarships.
Since the early 1970s, Citizens Engine has awarded more than $100,000 in memorial scholarships that not only honor past members, but gives local kids starting the next chapter of their lives a little financial boost, according to Fire Marshal Timm Willis.
Willis himself was on the receiving end of a Citizens’ scholarship back in 2001, which he used to help defer the cost of college textbooks. He knows college costs can be daunting for families.
One of the recipients, Jon Kramer-Earley, 17, who received the C2 Memorial Scholarship, plans to use his $1,000 towards tuition costs as he heads to UCONN this fall.
While Jon isn’t quite yet sure on a major, he said it’s going to be in a field where he can help people.
“I was excited and very appreciative to receive this scholarship,” he said.
Jon’s parents, Raymond Earley and Judy Kramer-Earley, are excited for what his future holds.
“We’re very proud of him; he worked very hard and kept his head in the books,” Raymond Earley said.
Students in the running for the scholarships are required to write an essay, and then a volunteer scholarship committee reviews the essays, while also taking financial need and community service into consideration.
Payton Hannon, 18, who also received the C2 Memorial Scholarship, drew upon the skills she acquired when she was a member of Citizens’ Junior Volunteer Fire Department for the basis of her winning essay.
“I was one of the only girls in the Junior Fire program, and I’m really short and the uniform didn’t fit right,” Payton said. “So I learned how to be a little gritty, how to adapt, how to be a leader and gained a lot of confidence from the experience.”
Willis said the scholarships are funded each year through various fundraisers that Citizens runs, such as pancake breakfasts, raffles and lobster nights.
The other two students who were unable to attend Wednesday’s ceremony were Kayla Pollman, who received the Ted Lewis Memorial Scholarship ($500), and Kerilyn Karpovich, who received the Ray Marshall Memorial Scholarship ($400).
Those scholarships are made possible with funds initially donated by the families of longtime members Lewis and Marshall, who joined Citizens in the 1940s and 1950s; and the continued contributions made by citizens.
Chief Lombardi was happy to help the four students as they embark on their college careers.
“It’s awesome to give back to the community,” he said.
