For Your Information from…

Suffolk County Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services 
Joseph F.  Williams, Commissioner 

SUFFOLK COUNTY SERVES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
 

SUFFOLK EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR RETENTION IN THE VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE(SERVES)…in most areas of SuffolkCounty, it is volunteers who respond to fire, rescue and emergency medical services (EMS). In many parts of the country, including Suffolk County, the membership of these volunteer emergency services agencies has declined to critical levels. In response to this vital need for volunteers, SuffolkCounty has developed the Suffolk Educational program for Retention in the Volunteer Emergency Services (SERVES) scholarship as an incentive for people to serve in the volunteer emergency services. This program will allow Fire and EMS Volunteers who have not completed eighty (80) lifetime credit hours to do so at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC).

Developed by the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services this innovative program is available for full and part time students entering SCCC.

Volunteers under the SERVES scholarship program will be eligible to have their tuition paid in full while maintaining their membership as an active member in good standing in one of SuffolkCounty’s volunteer fire companies or EMS providers. There is no limitation as to the academic program the SERVES recruit can enter at any SCCC campus.

A SERVES student/volunteer must maintain volunteer activity and training levels and certain academic objectives during their course of study and must commit to a post-education service obligation of two (2) to five (5) years following the receipt of their total SERVES funding.

Members of fire departments or EMS agencies must forward the SERVES nomination to the Suffolk County Recruitment and Retention Committee by May 1 of each year.

For more information on the SERVES program and/or forms, click on the following link :   Suffolk County SERVES Scholarship Progam or call Tom O'Hara at the Suffolk County Department of Fire Rescue & Emergency Services (631) 852-4908, email: Thomas.O'Hara@suffolkcountyny.gov