Sierra Ambulance awards scholarships to YHS grads

 

Sierra Star/Cathie Campbell

Lyle Swanson, Sierra Ambulance Service Board of Directors representative, joins Yosemite High School seniors Gene Walker and Hilary Lucas, as they check out some of the SAS emergency equipment on Tuesday. Gene and Hilary are the first two recipients of $500 emergency services scholarships offered by SAS.

 

Two Yosemite High School seniors, Hilary Lucas and Gene Walker, each received a $500 emergency services scholarship, offered through Sierra Ambulance Service and presented by Lyle Swanson, of the SAS Board of Directors. Mr. Swanson was involved in the selection process for the scholarship program.

Hilary plans to attend University of California, Los Angeles’ College of Letters and Science in the fall. Gene will attend community college as he prepares for a career in law enforcement.

“Both candidates have demonstrated academic excellence and community involvement throughout their high school careers,” says Ed Guzman, SAS general manager.

This is the first time that SAS has offered scholarship funds, and has established a community benefit fund from which it will provide tuition assistance to local worthy students.

Assisting with tuition is part of the mission of SAS “to not only provide paramedic service to the community, but also to be involved in activities that promote health, safety and the quality of life in Eastern Madera County,” adds Mr. Guzman.

As a nonprofit entity, the Board of Directors is committed to giving back to the community that has supported Sierra Ambu­lance throughout the years. Sierra Ambulance is one of dozens of Mountain Area businesses that together, have provided more than $100,000 in scholarship money to local graduates this year alone.

Sierra Ambulance Service is a nonprofit community-owned organization that provides a paramedic ambulance service to the communities of Eastern Madera County. It was founded in 1964 as a volunteer service and has evolved throughout the years into a full-time professional service with trained paramedics and technicians staffing its state-of-the-art ambulances.

Family memberships are available at a cost of $40 per year, which support SAS and pays for that portion of the ambulance transport not covered by insurance, or the whole cost if there is no insurance.

Information: 642-0650.