East Pierce VFA Announces New Scholarship for Local High School Seniors

The East Pierce Volunteer Firefighters’ Association is pleased to announce the addition of a new, $250 scholarship this year to benefit high school seniors living within East Pierce Fire and Rescue’s response area.

The new scholarship brings the total number of scholarships awarded annually to area students by the Volunteer Association to five.

“We are happy to find a way to include all the students who live in the East Pierce Fire and Rescue jurisdiction,” said East Pierce Volunteer Firefighter Sara Arneson, chair of the Scholarship Committee.

Since 2008, the East Pierce VFA has awarded college scholarships to high school seniors attending Bonney Lake, Sumner, and White River High Schools, plus one for East Pierce personnel and their children.

“This year the Association has expanded our scholarship programs to benefit more high school seniors who live within the fire district, but attend schools outside of the district,” Arneson said.  “Students attending the following schools will be eligible to apply as long as they live within the East Pierce boundaries –Auburn Riverside, Orting, Todd Beamer, Puyallup, Fife, Cascade Christian, White River Alternative, West Auburn, Walker, and various other area private schools.” 

East Pierce Fire and Rescue serves approximately 87,000 residents who live in Bonney Lake, Sumner, Lake Tapps, Edgewood, Milton, South Prairie, Wilkeson, rural Buckley and the Ridge Communities.

The scholarships are funded through various efforts by the Volunteer Association, including an upcoming Bingo Night at the Buckley Eagles, starting at 6 p.m. March 22.

To be eligible, all students applying for the Association scholarships must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, current or recent community service activities, and be planning to serve the public with a career in firefighting, law enforcement, medicine, or social services upon graduating from college. Applications are available on the East Pierce VFA website (www.eastpiercevfa.org) in the “Scholarship” section under “Community Scholarship”. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. March 16.