Ashville Volunteer Fire Company scholarship launched

Fund to offer $1,000 to active member or family members

ASHVILLE -- A new scholarship has been created to help attract new members to the Ashville Volunteer Fire Company.

The Evelyn and Eugene Eyer Ashville Scholarship Fund -- established through the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies -- will provide a scholarship to students who are pursuing any type of post-secondary education. Applicants must be an Ashville Volunteer Fire Company member or a child, grandchild, niece or nephew of a member.

The fund was established by CFA board member Bob Eyer in memory of his parents, Evelyn and Eugene Eyer.

Eugene Eyer was one of the fire company's incorporators, and then served as its chief engineer for the first 25 years, while Evelyn was an auxiliary member who held an active role in supporting the company's fundraisers and activities, Bob Eyer said.

According to Eyer, the family received calls at their house for fire and ambulance dispatches before the advent of Cambria County's 911 system.

"At all hours of the night, we could be taking calls," Eyer said. "When I was 12 years old, I would get up when the fire siren rang and go help open up the doors of the fire company along with my father and wait for the other men to arrive to answer the fire alarm."

The fire company was "deeply ingrained" in the Eyer family, with Bob's brothers and sisters also involved as members.

Eyer, 80, is no longer active with the fire company, but hopes to give back to his hometown through establishing this fund. Money was endowed so the fire company can perpetually distribute $1,000 per year, he said.

The scholarship committee, consisting of Evelyn and Eugene Eyer's grandchildren, received two "wonderful" applications this year and couldn't determine a winner, so the decision was made to award a scholarship to each applicant, Eyer said.

Ashville Volunteer Fire Company members Maddison Lee and Zachery Novak were awarded $1,000 each, he said.

Lee, a Penn Cambria graduate who's entering her sophomore year at Penn State University Park, plans to obtain a bachelor's degree in animal science and become a veterinarian, according to Eyer.

Novak is a Bishop Carroll graduate who's entering his sophomore year at Saint Francis University, Eyer said, adding Novak plans to become a flight nurse upon completing his nursing studies.

"They're both inspiring kids," Eyer said of the scholarship recipients. "I made financial arrangements so that they could award double scholarships this year, not to let one of them out."

Eyer said it's "a real challenge getting members to join the fire company" these days and noted the important role firefighters play within their communities.

Captain Ron's Deli, a landmark store in Ashville Borough, caught fire earlier this month and the business is now closed until further notice, Eyer said.

"That's a pretty stark reminder of the need for the fire company and again the challenges of getting volunteers to join the fire company," Eyer said of the Aug. 8 fire. "We thought setting up this scholarship fund would be a way to attract new members and highlight the good deeds that the fire company is doing."

Ashville Volunteer Fire Company President Joe Hutsky said in a statement that he believes establishing the fund for an annual scholarship opportunity will help attract new members, so the organization can continue its mission of saving lives and protecting property.

Hutsky said he is confident that more applicants will apply next year.

Students can apply on CFA's website at www.cfalleghenies.org/scholarships.

Applicants will be required to upload a copy of the fire company's membership card for themselves or a relative. They will also be required to answer an essay question about why they believe it is important to support their local volunteer fire company.

Students can reach out to CFA donor services administrator Hannah Ernest at 814-399-4583 or hernest@cfalleghenies.org with any questions about the scholarship application.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.