CB East and MBIT Student, Tricia Shepard, Awarded $1,000 Francis X. Thomas Scholarship!
Central Bucks is proud to recognize CB East and Middle Bucks Institute of Technology Student Tricia Shepard, as the recent recipient of the Francis X. Thomas III Memorial Scholarship. Tricia is in her third year of the Medical & Health & Professions program and is a Senior at Central Bucks High School East. In addition to her studies, Tricia also is a Junior Firefighter in Doylestown, honoring a family tradition going back three generations. Family members also called to serve include her grandfather Jim, past Chief of the company, and father Jim, who is currently one of 2 Battalion Chiefs. Tricia was presented the scholarship at the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Emergency Services Awards banquet on October 27th by DFC Deputy Chief Ed Loux, who works with the Thomas family to give the $1000 scholarship to a deserving student in the Central Bucks Fire and EMS community.
The Francis X. Thomas III Memorial Scholarship is named after the late Mr. Thomas, who was the owner of Varcoe Thomas Funeral Home, President of the St. Joseph Society at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, member of the Doylestown Rotary, and a member of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce. Prior to directing the funeral home, Mr. Thomas worked as a 911 dispatcher for Bucks County. He also volunteered as an EMT with Warrington and Central Bucks Ambulances, as well as Doylestown Hospice. Mr. Thomas passed suddenly in 2008 at the age of 39. In 2012, his parents decided to establish a scholarship to support the educational goals of a community-minded student with a focus on serving others.
Each recipient of the annual Francis X. Thomas III Memorial Scholarship receives a $1,000 award. The scholarship was created to recognize the exceptional service of youth who are called to serve as emergency services personnel. As this year’s recipient, Tricia Shepard was recognized as an upcoming member of the Emergency Services Community.