AFSA awards $20,000 in scholarships

The American Fire Sprinkler Association awarded scholarships to 10 high school graduating seniors. These national winners were randomly selected from 65,570 students who entered to receive a one-time $2,000 AFSA scholarship payable to their respective college, university or trade school.

The 2015 winners are:

• Clara Cohoon, Prosper, Texas;
• Ethan Erauw, Jonesboro, Ark.;
• Zachary Like, Little Rock, Ark.;
• Carlos Menzie, Bridgeport, Conn.;
• Aaron Pietraallo, Magnolia, N.C.;
• Hayley Rein, Brooklyn, N.Y.;
• Ashley Milan, Myrtle Beach, S.C.;
• Shana Smith, Pembroke Pines, Fla.;
• Krystelle Thomas, Queens, N.Y.; and
• Veronica Werve, Kempner, Texas.

To be eligible, applicants must be a current high school senior planning to attend a U.S. college, university or trade school in the coming fall. Applicants are required to read a passage about fire sprinklers — which describes their history, how they operate to save lives and property, and the types of careers that are available in the industry — and take a 10-question reading comprehension test. For each question answered correctly, the student receives one entry into a drawing for one of ten $2,000 scholarships.

AFSA also offers a $5,000 Second Chance Scholarship Contest, which is open to anyone who has graduated high school or the equivalent and wants to pursue a college degree or trade school education. The 2015 Second Chance Scholarship will award five $1,000 scholarships and is accepting applications through Aug. 26 at www.afsascholarship.org.