05/14/2026
Tonight, I had the honor of awarding the Wandering Firefighter Scholarship to a very deserving Carlisle senior, Alyvia.
The Wandering Firefighter Scholarship was created to support students pursuing careers in Fire/EMS or Law Enforcement — careers that require individuals willing to step into physical, emotional, and mental danger so others don’t have to. Young people willing to answer that calling are worthy of our support, encouragement, and belief in their future.
This year, several outstanding students submitted applications, and reading through them left me with a great sense of hope. Our future is in good hands with young men and women like these preparing to enter the first responder and healthcare fields. Their compassion, work ethic, leadership, and desire to serve others was incredibly inspiring.
Alyvia stood out not only because of her accomplishments, but because of the heart behind her goals. Throughout high school, she balanced athletics, academics, leadership, and service while maintaining a strong commitment to becoming someone others can depend on during the worst moments of their lives.
She earned numerous academic and athletic honors, including State Championships in softball and basketball, Academic All-Conference recognition in multiple sports, DMACC President’s List honors, and recognition at the Iowa Hero Academy with the 2025 Police Award. More importantly, her application reflected maturity, empathy, humility, and a genuine desire to help people.
One paragraph from her essay especially stood out to me:
"I want to become a first responder because I know how important it is to have someone show up when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Some of the worst moments in life happen without warning, and in those moments, people need someone they can depend on. I want to be that person—the one who shows up ready to help, no matter how hard the situation is."
That mindset matters.
Alyvia plans to attend DMACC to study criminal justice as she works toward becoming a police officer — a profession she hopes to approach with compassion, respect, and a desire to build trust within the community she serves.
Congratulations, Alyvia. The world needs more people willing to serve others with courage and empathy, and I have no doubt you will make a difference wherever this path takes you.
It was an honor to play a small role in supporting your journey.
