The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) announced numerous scholarships are available for the 2008 academic year. Many local chapters of SFPE across the country offer scholarships for fire protection engineering graduate and undergraduate students.
“These scholarships are a great way to offset the rising costs of college,” says Chris Jelenewicz, SFPE Engineering Program Manager. “Scholarships range from $500 to $7,000.”
In past years, the chapters have found that many of these scholarships go unclaimed.
“The last few years we have had very little response to the scholarship. This is true even after contacting the universities that teach fire protection and ask to announce the scholarship to the students,” says SFPE Tennessee Valley Chapter President, Monty Overton.
The SFPE Chapters are eager for students to apply for these scholarships.
“We have circulated the applications to several area colleges for years, but the response has been sporadic and less than desired,” notes Bill Kennedy SFPE St. Louis Chapter Board of Directors.
Additionally, many scholarships are available from colleges and universities that offer programs in fire protection engineering and from private fire protection organizations.
“Because the demand for fire protection engineers outpaces the supply, it is very difficult for employers to find qualified fire protection engineers,” says Jelenewicz. “To meet this demand, these scholarships give interested students an opportunity to enter this rewarding profession.”
More information about the scholarships that are available for students majoring in fire protection engineering can be found at www.careersinfireprotectionengineering.com.
