Above: The late Chief Chief Russell J. Randolph.
The Manatee County (FL) Fire Chiefs’ Association awarded two firefighting academic scholarships at the group’s June 28 meeting at the downtown fire station at 1010 Ninth Avenue West in Bradenton, Florida.
More: Trailer Estates (FL) Fire Chief Russell J. Randolph Passes On
Connor McCauley, a Braden River High School graduate from Bradenton, and Steven Penberthy, a home school graduate from Parrish, will be awarded the very first Chief Russell J. Randolph Firefighting Academic Scholarship. The scholarship is named for Trailer Estates Fire Chief Russell J. Randolph, who passed away in 2016 after serving 37 years in the fire service.
Chief Randolph was a strong supporter of the Manatee Fire Academy at Manatee Technical College. The scholarship was created earlier this year by the Manatee County Fire Chiefs’ Association to enhance the opportunities for high school students of Manatee County, who have expressed a desire to serve their community by pursuing a career as a Florida Firefighter.
The scholarship is funded primary through proceeds from red cup sales program at Mission BBQ in Bradenton.
Both recipients have completed the Manatee Fire Academy Firefighter I program and are enrolled in the Firefighter II class set to begin in August. The Randolph Scholarship will cover most of the cost of this class and allow them to complete the requirements to be a certified Florida Firefighter.
