Honeywell/DuPont sponsored, all-expenses paid trip to FDIC 2017 provides weeklong knowledge-building, networking opportunities at industry’s premier training event
Lt. Toni Russell, a firefighter for Hot Sulphur Springs Parshall Fire Protection District was awarded a Honeywell/DuPont sponsored scholarship with all-expenses-paid trip to acquire advanced training in firefighting techniques and technologies at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, April 24-29, at the Indiana Convention Center.
Only 20 scholarships are awarded annually to firefighters from the United States and Canada in the annual Honeywell/DuPont scholarship program. Since Honeywell
launched the program in 2015, a chief criteria for being selected for the scholarship is a special passion for training others in firefighting techniques and safety, said Ken Schmidt, vice president of Honeywell First Responder. Nominations are peer-based, which means that only fellow firefighters, emergency medical technicians and first responders can nominate an individual for the scholarship.
“I am greatly honored and humbled to be chosen as a recipient of the
Honeywell/DuPont scholarship,” said Toni Russell. “The FDIC event is one that all firefighters talk about and express a desire to attend. I made full use of my time there to learn and grow and bring this advanced knowledge back to my department, so that my team can work together better as brothers and sisters, protecting the community while protecting ourselves as best we can.”
Lt. Russell is the Training Officer with the department. She was also named as the Regional Proctor by the Colorado Division of Fire Protection and Control. She holds FF1, FF2, Hazmat Ops, Instructor 1 and Live Burn Instructor state certs. She is currently working on her Fire Officer 1 and Instructor 2.
“Toni Russell was awarded this scholarship because Honeywell and DuPont supports the A-team of firefighters that not only demonstrate bravery and skill on the fire ground, but also are willing to share best-practices with their colleagues,” said Ken Schmidt, vice president of Honeywell First Responder. “Our work with these brave young men and women who put their lives on the line on the fire ground is our way of giving back, while hopefully spreading the knowledge that helps them understand the risks to their safety that they must take—as well as the ones that they don’t have to take.”
The training at FDIC was kicked off by 2 days of H.O.T (Hands On Training)followed by a scholarship awards dinner and ceremony at Marriott Hotel, 8 p.m. Sunday, April 23. Lt. Russell’s hot classes were a 4 hour Flashover training and an 8 hour Live Fire for first due operations. The weeklong training that followed included over 50 classroom sessions to choose from plus social events and competitions that include memorial walks for fallen firefighters, musical concerts, and simulated fire ground activities.
