By MONROE ROARK|
Staff Writer

Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services announced last week that Lt. Steve MacFall is the latest recipient of a $1,000 Metro Fire Chiefs Scholarship for his continuing college education.

The award is given annually to an officer with the rank of lieutenant or higher who is enrolled in an accredited college.

An 11-year department veteran, MacFall is a student at the Cogswell Polytechnical College out of California, earning his degree through correspondence and Internet courses. Cogswell has a National Fire Academy curriculum not available in Georgia.

He will graduate with a bachelor's degree in fire department administration. He has three semesters remaining, including the present term.

MacFall has spent about five and one-half years doing his college work, including an associate's degree in fire science technology he earned at DeKalb College. That was a prerequisite for the program he is now in.

The scholarship will pay for three classes, MacFall said, or roughly one full semester.

A firefighter in Fayette County since the age of 19, MacFall grew up in Riverdale and now lives in Tyrone with his wife, Robin, and 6-year-old daughter, Allie. He was transferred two months ago to station three in Tyrone, about a mile and a half from home.

Only one of these scholarships is given in metro Atlanta each year by the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association. The program was established in 1991 for officers of departments interested in pursuing further educational opportunities, according to fire and emergency services director Jack Krakeel.

As part of the application process, MacFall submitted a transcript and wrote a 250-word essay outlining why he believes his continuing education is beneficial to him as well as the department. Krakell also contributed his own recommendation, and a committee reviewed MacFall's and the other applications before making a decision.

MacFall is the third officer from Fayette County to receive this award in this decade.

“We are extremely pleased and proud of Lt. MacFall,” said Krakeel. “[The award] speaks well of our employees.”