Columbia Southern University recently awarded student Wesley Murphy its first Outstanding Fire Service Professional Award.
The runner-up for the award was graduate Patrick Shipp of League City, Texas, who is the fire chief for the Webster Fire Department.
The award was established as part of National Fire Prevention Month (October) and to recognize CSU fire service students and graduates for their commitment to safety, professionalism and their accomplishments in the industry. Many students submitted nominations and CSU faculty selected a winner based on these nominations.
Murphy, of Summerville, S.C., is an engineer with the North Charleston Fire Department. He is a dedicated firefighter who loves helping others. In fact, he often works to assist homeless individuals in his community by passing out blankets in the winter and water bottles in the summer.
He is also a volunteer with the Medical University of South Carolina Burned Children’s Fund Camp “Can” Do. In helping those in his profession, Murphy has served as an instructor with the South Carolina Fire Academy for the past few years.
His selfless attitude is one of the reasons he received this Fire Service Professional Award.
“His tireless efforts in many different areas have shown that Wesley is not just an outstanding fire professional, but an admirable and caring individual as well,” said Keith Padgett, CSU program director for fire and EMS.
Murphy is currently working on his associate degree in fire science with CSU and hopes to continue his education as he loves the flexibility of the online classes.
“I enjoy the ability to get started with my school work after I put my kids to bed and have that quiet time for me. This is invaluable for working parents,” he explained.
“There is no excuse to be in a job like this and not further your education in something that will save your life and someone else’s!”
We would like to say thank you very much to all of the students who participated in the Outstanding Fire Service Professional nomination. Your nominations were phenomenal and we are humbled to be a part of your education and lives!
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