Fire department awards scholarships

WINSTED —  Three area students were awarded scholarships from the Winsted Fire Department at an awards dinner on Thursday, Dec. 8. 

The ceremony was held at the fire house on Prospect Street, and members of the department attended.

The scholarships were given in memory of Robert “Corky” Corso, who died in August 1988 in a motorcycle accident. Corso was a member of Engine One. The department established a scholarship in his name in 1989.

According to fire department member Tim Moran, an applicant must reside within Litchfield County and be a graduate of either The Gilbert School, Northwestern Regional High School or Oliver Wolcott Technical School.

“Generally we usually give out one $1,000 scholarship, but we only had three applicants for the scholarship this year,” Moran said. “All three of them are very well known in the community and they have all done very well at school. The department decided to make a special exception this year.”

Corso said the department holds fundraisers for the scholarship fund throughout the year, and Corso’s relatives donate to the fund.

Two of the three scholarship winners, Shannon McGrane and Shelby Goodell, attended the Dec. 8 event.

McGrane is a Gilbert School graduate and is currently attending the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford.

She is scheduled to earn her master’s degree in clinical social work, with a concentration in health and mental health, this May.

Goodell, who also is a graduate of Gilbert, is the third generation of Goodells to serve with Engine One. Her father, Scott Goodell, has been a member for more than 20 years, while her great-grandfather, Morgan Beach, was also a member.

She is studying criminal justice at Northwestern Connecticut Community College.

The third recipient was Jessica LaMere, a graduate of Oliver Wolcott Technical School.

She is currently studying radiology technology at Naugatuck Valley Community College.

Her father, Steven LaMere, is assistant fire chief of the department and has served for over 30 years.