The first 12 Jewish Community Foundation scholarship recipients are (front row, from left): Mary Dennis, JoAnn Beltran, Kristen Nelson, Jennifer Jording; (middle row, from left): Michael McLeod, Raymond Trujillo, LaRee Gray, Linda Thornbro; (back row, from left): Jason Sewell, Michael Kean, Sarah Little, Stephanie Reininger.
Yavapai College, Foundation Aid Yarnell Hill Fire Victims
T
he deadly Yarnell Hill fire that killed 19 firefighters in Arizona on June 30 touched Yavapai College (YC) in many ways, and the College community responded with both immediate and long-term assistance. The nation’s deadliest wildland fire in 80 years also forced the evacuation of two communities south of Prescott. As part of an agreement with the Red Cross, the organization quickly set up its primary evacuation center on the YC Prescott campus, and some 50 evacuees registered at the college the evening of June 30. The loss of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots team members touched the entire community, including the Yavapai College family. Some of the fallen firefighters were relatives and friends of College employees, and many of the Hotshots had attended Yavapai College. “As members of a fairly small community, we know that many of you have been touched by the tragic loss of life as a result of this fire,” College President Dr. Penny Wills noted in one of a series of updates to employees at the time of the tragedy. “Our thoughts and prayers are with
4
the families, friends and loved ones of the courageous fire fighters who lost their lives responding to this threat. They will be remembered.” While helping with the immediate needs of evacuees, College administration and employees realized that longterm assistance was needed, as well. Within days of the disaster, Yavapai College and the YC Foundation created and announced a scholarship fund for the children, spouses, fiancées and the lone surviving member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots—30 people in all. “This is a long-term commitment that is very personal for us,” said Steve Walker, the Yavapai College vice president of advancement. “Many of the team members were students at Yavapai College, and some were in our fire science program. We knew them and we respected them. Now we honor them.” The Granite Mountain Hotshots Scholarship Fund is set up to provide scholarships for the family members’ community college education needs. The Yavapai College Foundation will manage the scholarship fund. As of the