MEET THE 2014 LT. RICHARD A. NAPPI TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT
This year that man is Scott Wegst. Scott Wegst is a 13 year member of the Central Hose #4 Company in the Depew Fire Department. He currently holds the position of 1st Assistant Chief. He was the Lieutenant and Captain before becoming assistant chief. A third generation firefighter, following in the footsteps and his father and grandfather, who both held the position of Fire Chief.
The Depew Volunteer Fire Department has 162 members and is the largest fire department in Erie County, New York, and operates 6 companies within the department. Overseeing the departments’ firematic training has been a top priority to Scott. He set out with goals of standardizing and taking the departments’ training to new levels. Creating new training policies and standards including driving, pump operations, radio communications, and fire suppression helped the department meet and exceed many national standards. He also created a structure for a new officer development program and a new member orientation, which helps both new recruits and veteran firefighters further their knowledge of the fire service.This past September, he organized a multi-agency drill by simulating a scenario of a rail car leaking hazardous materials. This drill involved many agencies including CSX, Erie County Emergency Services, Village of Depew Police and Office of Emergency Management, as well as neighboring fire departments. He says that this drill helped recognize the departments’ strengths, as well as areas to improve, in order to be prepared in the event of a real railroad emergency.
Scott was recently awarded the Firemark award from Liberty Mutual Insurance, which recognizes outstanding service, both firematically and in the community at large. In addition to Scott's involvement with the fire department, he is also involved in many events throughout the Village of Depew, including the annual Village Tree Lighting and the National Night Out. He has received grants through my employer, Johnson Controls, to plant trees in Veteran’s Park, located in the village. Scott was also one of the leaders of a local group which helped preserve the Village of Depew by educating residents about the benefits of village life and all of the services it has to offer.
He is married to his wife Jennifer, and they have a two year old son, Scott Jr. Jennifer is also involved in the fire department, serving as treasurer of the ladies auxiliary. Scott is employed by Johnson Controls Inc. as a systems technician for the building efficiency group.
We would like to thank everyone for applying for our FDIC training scholarship. We received over 250 applications, each and every one with strong merits, and it was a tough assignment to pick just one person from amongst so many worthwhile requests. We would like to encourage you to apply again next year for the FDIC scholarship so that you can bring that training back to your fellow fire fighters and continue to help make a difference in the lives of those you work with.
From all of us here at True North, thank you for the dedication, sacrifice and fine example that you embody and exhibit every day. It is you who inspire us here at True North to provide the best tools we can to help keep you safe while you are helping to save others.
