Rockland Program Helps 107 Volunteer First Responders With Tuition

NEW CITY, NY — Since Rockland County launched its college tuition assistance program for volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders last year, more than $217,000 has been awarded to 107 people.

Called Higher Education Recruitment & Retention Opportunities, it is run by the Office of Fire & Emergency Services. It was created to help the county's busy fire departments and ambulance corps recruit and retain more volunteers.

“To our first responders: know that we appreciate all that you do, and this is our way of saying thank you,” said County Executive Ed Day.

H.E.R.R.O began in 2023.

“These programs are a great way to assist fire departments and ambulance corps in recruiting and retaining volunteers,” said Fire and Emergency Services Director Chris Kear. “Supporting our volunteers is also crucial to maintaining these voluntary services which save taxpayers a lot of money.”

Some of those individuals include Lauren Hahnenfeld, a 22-year-old Nanuet Community Ambulance volunteer. Hahnenfeld was reimbursed $9,000 for her nursing degree at William Patterson College.

“Because I want to be an emergency nurse, I always wanted to do EMS so the H.E.R.R.O. program helped me graduate nursing school without any debt,” said Hahnenfeld.

EMS agencies respond annually to over 40,000 calls per year and fire departments respond to over 9,000 calls per year. Both industries have been experiencing difficulties recruiting and retaining volunteers, and the county launched this program both as an incentive for county residents to serve as a volunteer first responder and as a thank you to those already serving.

Dave Kryger had been a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years when the County H.E.R.R.O. Program launched in 2023. The 52-year-old Volunteer Hose West Haverstraw volunteer firefighter is now an online student at SUNY Oswego and has received $8,850 in reimbursements so far for his bachelor's degree.

“I was volunteering already and wanted to go back to school so why not take advantage of the H.E.R.R.O. program that is provided by the County for tuition reimbursement,” said Kryger. “It’s great; The fact the County is willing to help cover that cost is tremendous.”

In addition to the Higher Education Recruitment and Retention Opportunities volunteer tuition reimbursement program, the county also has EDGES. Educational Development and Growth for Emergency Services is a partnership between the county and Rockland Community College offering free tuition to active volunteers. It's an expansion of an existing program for county employees.

County officials encourage Fire & EMS volunteers to learn more on the website.