Chief Mike Warner Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship serves as a living tribute.

Criteria

Chief Mike Warner Memorial Scholarship

Selection Criteria

Purpose Statement

The Chief Mike Warner Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the distinguished legacy of Chief Mike Warner, a decorated veteran, devoted firefighter, and respected community leader.  This scholarship provides financial assistance to those pursuing education and careers in public safety, including fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical services.  It is awarded to individuals who demonstrate leadership, integrity, courage, and a deep commitment to serving others.  By investing in the next generation of public servants, the scholarship upholds Chief Warner’s lifelong dedication to protecting the community and his enduring belief that “Life is Good.”

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the Chief Mike Warner Memorial Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Residency – applicants must reside in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Portage, or Trumbull counties
  2. Career path – must be pursuing education and certification in one of the following public safety fields: emergency medical services, firefighting, or law enforcement
  3. Enrollment and acceptance – must have intentions to enroll in, or have applied to, or have been accepted by a recognized public safety institution or training program in Northeast Ohio or the Ohio Fire Academy during the year applied for.
  4. Application deadline – All completed applications, including essays, and verification materials must be received by March 15 of the award year.  Late applications will not be accepted.

Award Details

  1. Number of awards – Up to three (3) scholarships awarded annually.
  2. Award amount – Up to $2,000.00 for each recipient, depending on verified program cost.
  3. Payment method – Funds will be paid directly to the educational institution upon proof of acceptance and enrollment.
  4. Renewability – Scholarships are non-renewable; however, previous applicants may reapply in future years.

Evaluation Criteria

The selection process employs a two-stage evaluation system:

  1. The Warner Family will initially select the top two (2) applicants in each designated area (emergency medical services, fire, and law enforcement).
  2. The Scholarship Committee will then review and score these applicants using a separate weighted evaluation rubric to determine the final award recipients.

Application Components

A complete application must include the following:

  1. Completed application form – including the area of study
  2. Proof of enrollment intentions – documentation of application or acceptance in an eligible public safety program
  3. Essay responses addressing the following topics:
    1. Motivation for pursuing a public safety career.
    1. Personal reflection on Chief Warner’s motto “Life is Good.”  What does this phrase mean to the applicant and how will they embody this outlook into their career, particularly in relation to integrity, service, leadership, and community.
    1. Letters of recommendation and transcripts are not required.

Selection Process

The selection of the scholarship follows a structured process and timeline:

  1. Initial screening – applications will be reviewed by the Committee for eligibility and completeness.
  2. March Committee meeting – the Committee will review all applications for completeness and remove all identifying information before forwarding the applications to the Warner family for review and selection.
  3. Warner Family review – The Warner Family will select the top two (2) candidates for each or the three (3) scholarship categories.
  4. April Committee meeting – designated committee member(s) will conduct a final review and weighted evaluation of the top applications. 
  5. Notification – scholarship winners will be notified by phone.
  6. Award presentation – if the recipient is currently in an academic program with an academic award night, designated Committee members, along with members of the Warner Family (if available), will attend and present the award in accordance with school protocol.

Additional Considerations

Preference may be given to applicants who demonstrate one or more of the following:

  1. Military veterans or family of veterans.
  2. Documented financial need (if supported by appropriate documentation).
  3. Residency in a community in which Chief Warner served.

This scholarship serves as a living tribute to Chief Warner’s memory and encourages recipients to pursue excellence while making a positive impact on their communities.

This scholarship serves as a living tribute to Chief Warner’s memory and encourages recipients to pursue excellence while making a positive impact on their communities.