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News Story 
State Fire School announces Honorary Dean, Nationwide grant and a new Zimmerman-Markley scholarship April 23, 2008
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BOWLING GREEN, O.--State Fire School at Bowling Green State University is proud to announce Karen Blickley is the 2008 Honorary Dean.
Karen is the Director of the Nationwide Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Nationwide Insurance headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Established in 1959, the Foundation has provided vital financial support to qualified nonprofit organizations.
In February 2005, the Nationwide Foundation awarded $44,000 for scholarships to State Fire School. To date, 110 scholarships have been awarded to firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians from every region in Ohio.
Karen is a graduate of BGSU, where she received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She joined Nationwide in 1982. Karen has earned her Fellow Life Management Institute and Chartered Life Underwriting designations, and currently serves as Treasurer of the Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers.
"The Nationwide Foundation has been a great supporter of the training of fire and emergency professionals in Ohio, and Karen has provided great leadership in nurturing State Fire School's relationship with the Foundation," said Ann Light, Director of State Fire School. "Karen's commitment has resulted in funding for participants who otherwise would not have been able to receive training."
Recently, the Nationwide Foundation extended their relationship with BGSU by approving an additional grant of $20,000 to State Fire School for 2008-2009. This grant will allow State Fire School to expand the scholarship program between the Nationwide Foundation and State Fire School.
"The additional $20,000 comes at a critical point when many fire departments are struggling to stretch training dollars," Light said. "Scholarships from the Nationwide Foundation significantly offset the costs of attending State Fire School, making it much easier for people to attend."
State Fire School is also proud to announce the establishment of the Zimmerman-Markley Community Service Award, an endowed scholarship that will be awarded annually at the BGSU State Fire School.
This award was established in 2007 by the Zimmerman family to honor their parents Ralph and Helen (Markley) Zimmerman, both of whom were active volunteers in their community, supporting the volunteer fire service.
Mr. Zimmerman has been a member of the Christiansburg (Ohio) Volunteer Fire Department for more than 57 years, serving as chief from 1968 to 1984, and was recently honored for his outstanding service to the community. The late Mrs. Zimmerman was a charter member of the Christiansburg Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary organization, which provides essential support to the firefighters and their volunteer company.
This Community Service Award has been established to assist fire and rescue service volunteers located in Miami and Champaign counties, with preferences given to the Christiansburg Volunteer Fire Department, Casstown Volunteer Fire Department and the St. Paris Volunteer Fire Department. Multiple awards may be granted annually to a qualified member of these departments so that they may attend State Fire School.
"The Zimmerman-Markley Community Service Award truly represents the bond that exists in the fire service," Light said. "After more than 50 years in the volunteer fire service, the Zimmerman family continues to look for ways to support rescue volunteers in their community. This scholarship will ensure that the dedicated volunteers of Miami and Champaign counties will continue to receive critical training to protect themselves and their community."
The opening ceremony for the 2008 State Fire School is scheduled for Monday, May 5 at 8:15 a.m. at the Lenhart Grand Ballroom in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. State Fire Marshal Michael Bell will recognize Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman for their years of volunteer service at the opening ceremony and will be announcing the Zimmerman-Markley Community Service Award.
For more information, visit www.fireschool.org or call Ann Light at 419-372-7895.
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