The Center for Life Safety Education (CLSE), a 501(c)(3) educational affiliate of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), is pleased to announce Manuel “Manny” Orlich has been selected as the 2014 recipient of the Thomas S. Waller Memorial Scholarship. The Fire Protection & Safety Technology major will enter his senior year at Oklahoma State University (OSU) with a 3.7 cumulative GPA, including several semesters on the President’s Honor Roll. In addition to his outstanding schoolwork, Orlich is involved in a number of activities including serving as secretary of the Fire Protection Society, vice president of the Student Association of Fire Investigators, and a training officer for the OSU Firefighter Combat Challenge Team.
A graduate of the Chesterton (IN) Senior High School, Orlich, whose father and brother have served as firefighters on his hometown’s career/volunteer department, says he has always had a fascination with fire and when he learned of the FPST program at OSU he set his sights on attending. Orlich describes himself as “motivated” and says he takes great pride in the fact that he took it upon himself to pay his own way through college. He notes that, while his father and brother are large factors in his interest in fire protection technology, he also enjoys trying to solve the logical and analytical problems that arise in this field. “Most importantly,” he adds, “is that I feel my studying in this field will eventually be able to help protect and save people from the hazardous world that we live in today.”
Besides being a full-time student, Orlich works part-time as an intern for the Stillwater Fire Department, and as a volunteer firefighter with the Ingalls (OK) Fire Protection District.
Established in 2006, the Thomas S. Waller Memorial Scholarship honors an industry leader who devoted more than 40 years to the fire protection industry. He was passionate about the industry and about providing educational opportunities for young people. Therefore, after his passing in May 2005, members of the American Fire Sprinkler Association chose to honor his memory by establishing a scholarship in his name. Although Mr. Waller did not attend OSU, he visited Stillwater and the OSU campus many times and was instrumental in the development of the AFSA/OSU Fire Sprinkler Inspection Training and Certificate course that is provided through OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology.
As the 2014 recipient, Orlich has been awarded $4,000 in scholarship funds to help complete his education. Since its inception in 2006, this scholarship has awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships to fire protection majors at OSU. For more information, visit www.clse.org.
