Robinson scholarship inspires future firefighters and paramedics
Seventeen-year-old Josh Robinson wanted to be a firefighter and a paramedic and he was planning to go to Mt. SAC to fulfill his dreams. When Jamie and Bryan Robinson lost their son in an accident six weeks after his high school graduation in 1999, they knew they couldn’t let Josh’s dreams die with him. That’s why they established the Joshua Michael Robinson Memorial Scholarship for fire and paramedic students at Mt. SAC. Since April 2006, the scholarship has been supporting a fire student and a paramedic student in alternating years. So far, they have awarded seven fire scholarships and seven paramedic ones.
Growing up, Josh was a quintessential “good kid.” He befriended kids who were bullied and took care of his friends. His high school friend group was full of future first responders. They developed their dream together, and many of Josh’s friends fulfilled that dream after Josh’s tragic passing. Some of these friends are fire captains now with thriving careers, and some even went to Mt. SAC, which was Josh’s plan. Before high school graduation, Josh was struggling with whether to pursue his dreams at Mt. SAC or in the Coast Guard. Ultimately, though, he didn’t want to be in boot camp on his eighteenth birthday so he chose Mt. SAC. Being a first responder was the goal for Josh, and Mt. SAC’s excellent program would be a good match for his ambition.
In the immediate aftermath of Josh’s accident, his parents saw up close what first responders do. They witnessed the dedication and emotional investment involved in this type of work. The firefighters who were first on the scene stayed with Josh at the hospital, waiting to see if he would survive. In the weeks that followed, Josh’s dad Bryan visited the fire station to thank those firefighters for their dedication to his son, and the whole firehouse embraced him. He knew Josh would have fit right in.
Supporting a scholarship for Mt. SAC fire and paramedic students was a natural way to honor Josh. The Robinsons aim to keep the scholarship going long after they can no longer hand it out personally. They’ve seen the effect the scholarship has had on its recipients, and sometimes they even get invited to graduation ceremonies. They don’t expect to be invited, but they always go if they are. The recipients are grateful for the scholarship and that gratitude is meaningful for the Robinsons. They want to celebrate the scholarship recipients’ accomplishments and applaud their drive to be a force for good in their community. Sometimes they even keep in touch as the recipients’ careers advance and their lives flourish. Tracing the arc of the scholarship’s impact underscores the reason they started it.
Of course, the Robinsons know firsthand how important firefighters and paramedics are because of the bittersweet pairing of Josh’s dream and his accident, but they also recognize the impact these jobs make in the larger community. Between a record-breaking wildfire season and an unprecedented pandemic, Southern California needs qualified, well-trained first responders more than ever. The fire and paramedic programs at Mt. SAC are unmatched in the area, and the Robinsons have been impressed by the quality that comes out of these programs. Students who finish earn twelve certificates that make them not only employable at any fire station in the country but highly sought after job candidates. Because of its intensity, the fire academy functions like a fulltime job, and the Robinson scholarship could be the difference between a qualified candidate being able to attend the academy and not being able to afford it. Filling that gap has become the Robinsons’ mission. Mt. SAC Fire Chief Ray Mosack reinforces the impact that the scholarship has had on his program: “The scholarships that have been awarded by Jamie and Bryan Robinson in memory of their son, Josh Robinson, have given Mt. SAC students the opportunity to realize their dreams of becoming Firefighters and Paramedics. Without the benefit of the Robinson scholarship, these public safety professionals would not have had the opportunity to attend the Fire and/or Paramedic Academies. The Mt. SAC community is grateful for the generosity of the Robinson Family and the opportunity to honor the legacy of Josh Robinson.”