Scholarship to help high schoolers, adults entering public service in memory of Mt. Pleasant firefighter, EMT

After EMT and firefighter Andrew Beck died suddenly in January at just 23 years old, his friend and mother wanted to carry on his legacy of service in Westmoreland County.

In February, the pair co-founded the Andrew Logan Beck EMS and Fire Scholarship Fund, which will provide funding for local high schoolers and adults to attend EMT, paramedic and firefighter training.

“He just always loved giving back to the community,” said Kevin Hendrick, Beck’s friend and co-worker.

Beck’s “lifelong dream” was to become an EMT and fireman, said his mother, Sheri Miller, and Hendrick said he had a “big impact” on many community members.

“His favorite part of the job was community interaction, whether it be parades, festivals, events for kids,” said Hendrick, of Mt. Pleasant. “(He) loved promoting public safety.”

The idea for the scholarship fund was born out of Beck’s dedication to his craft and a need for more scholarship opportunities in public safety. Hendrick said awards such as this one are “very nonexistent.”

“Sometimes people don’t understand what it takes to be a volunteer,” Hendrick said. “People don’t realize the lack of funding we receive.”

Hendrick said the average cost to send an EMT to school is $800, the average cost of paramedic school is $6,000 and fire school ranges from $300 to $3,000.

And these costs are “completely out of pocket,” Hendrick said, unlike some nursing programs where hospitals will pay for schooling.

“It can be the difference between a new career and not,” Hendrick said of how the ALB Scholarship will help industry hopefuls. “People don’t have $1,000 sitting in their bank account anymore.”

Mt. Pleasant Township Supervisor Duane Hutter said many kids are interested in public service careers but are deterred for financial reasons.

“Once they find out how much it costs, they don’t have the money to do it,” said Hutter, a volunteer firefighter and EMT for Kecksburg VFD Rescue Squad, where Beck worked.

Hutter said he had known Beck since he was three or four.

“He was very dedicated to the volunteer fire department, and he was dedicated to the EMS,” Hutter said. “He was always very interested in helping young kids succeed.”

Beck joined Norvelt VFD when he was 14, but Miller said his involvement in public safety began much earlier, thanks to his grandfather.

“Him and his grandfather were inseparable. They did everything together,” Miller said. “His grandfather was a huge influence in his life.”

Hendrick said Beck’s grandfather would take him down to the fire station to wash firetrucks and participate in parades.

“Anything that had to do with the fire department, Andy was there doing it with him,” Hendrick said.

At age 16, Beck began attending protective services at Center Vocational Technical School through Mt. Pleasant School District. Beck also became a volunteer EMT with the Kecksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Beck then went on to work for Irwin VFD EMS and Achieva, his mom said.

Hendrick said their initial goal is to fund four students going into EMT programs through the scholarship, but they’re still waiting for more donations before establishing specific award numbers.

Anyone interested can apply for the scholarship here starting on July 15. Applications will close at 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, and winners will be announced Sept. 2.

Hutter said Beck “gave it his all” when it came to volunteering.

“His heart and soul was into it. … He had a heart of gold.”