By Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
WATERLOO, Iowa — The Waterloo Community Foundation has announced the two recipients of its Greg Freshwater Memorial Scholarship.
Waterloo firefighters Deric Kieler and Lucas Mortensen received the award to pay for their paramedic training at Hawkeye Community College.
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The scholarship fund was established in 2017 to honor the life of firefighter Greg Freshwater, who died that year. His dream of becoming a paramedic inspired the creation of the scholarship, which has since supported 14 Waterloo firefighters in achieving advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic certification.
“We are grateful to the Freshwater family for their gift toward the education of future paramedics, which aids in addressing the problem of the paramedic shortage we are currently seeing in our region and across the country,” Lt. Jason Hernandez, the medical supervisor at Waterloo Fire Rescue, said in a news release.
The fire department’s goal is to continue growing the scholarship fund until it reaches endowment. Then, the fund will provide annual scholarships permanently, ensuring future Waterloo firefighters pursuing paramedic training can receive support year after year.
“These individuals are the future of our ability to provide emergent, advanced life-saving treatments to those we serve,” Hernandez continued.
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