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CHEMTREC Awards

Awards and scholarships for the responder community.

Awards and Scholarships

At CHEMTREC®, we recognize that the first responder community is critical to hazmat response and we remain dedicated to working closely and effectively with responders when an incident occurs, as we have proudly supported them for the past 50+ years. CHEMTREC is delighted to offer multiple awards and scholarship opportunities. These awards and scholarships represent our appreciation of volunteer firefighters and hazmat responders and will continue to be an ongoing reminder of our commitment to them for years to come.

CHEMTREC HELP Award

CHEMTREC on an annual basis provides the HELP Award to volunteer fire departments in the United States. The awards are intended to help the fire departments enhance their response capabilities and increase local preparedness to respond to and prepare for hazardous materials incidents.

The 2025 HELP Award Application is now open through September 5th.

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Hazmat Scholarship Award

To support knowledge sharing, networking with peers, and expanding education opportunities for hazmat team members, CHEMTREC is sponsored six (6) scholarships to attend the 2025 Midwest Hazmat Conference hosted by Emery & Associates in Northbrook, IL on May 1-3, 2025. We will update 2026 details when they are available. 

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Past Hazmat Scholarship Award Recipients

2023

  • Amy Gray Schaefer, Covington Fire Department (KY)
  • Daniel Podlogar, Stark County HAZMAT/Massillon Department (OH)
  • Jacob Elder, Godfrey Fire District (IL)
  • Joshua Shuttlesworth, Triune-Halleck Volunteer Fire Department /Monongalia County Hazardous Incident Response Team/WV Regional Response Team (WV)

2024

  • Brian Hobbs, Louisville Fire Department, Louisville, KY
  • Curt McKinney, Jackson Township Fire Department, Jackson Township, OH
  • Charles Swank, Mansfield Fire Department, Mansfield, OH
  • Dereck White, New Castle Fire Department, New Castle, IN
  • Eric Petersen, Racine Fire Department, Racine, WI
  • Jeremy S. Jeffcoat, Orangeburg County Fire District, Orangeburg, SC

2025

  • Aaron Strom, Somers Fire & Rescue / Kenosha County HazMat Team, Kenosha, WI
  • James Pendergast, Galesburg Fire Department, Galesburg, IL
  • Braden J. Klausing, Pleasantview Fire Protection District, La Grange Highlands, IL
  • Troy Reed, Mansfield Fire Department, Mansfield, OH
  • Joseph C. Schardien, Somerset County Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team, Hillsborough, NJ
  • William Missal, Lake County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, Crown Point, IN 
     

HMIC “Hazmat Officer of the Year” and “Hazmat Instructor of the Year”

In partnership with Hazard3, CHEMTREC offers two scholarships to attend the Hazardous Materials Instructors and Commanders (HMIC) Conference for the recipients of the “Hazmat Officer of the Year” and “Hazmat Instructor of the Year” awards. Additionally, CHEMTREC sponsors the Leadership Breakfast at the conference on an annual basis. The next HMIC Conference will be held in San Antonio, TX from November 12-14, 2025. 

Apply for Officer of the Year

Apply for Instructor of the Year

Past HMIC Award Recipients

2024

  • Hazmat Officer of the Year: Captain Daniel Hoy, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, CA
  • Hazmat Instructor of the Year: Battalion Chief Roy Mitchell, Boise Fire Department, ID

2022

  • Hazmat Officer of the Year Captain Casey Simon, Milwaukee Fire Department
Hazmat Officer of the Year 2022

From Left to Right: Erica Bernstein (CHEMTREC), Joe Milazzo (CHEMTREC), Captain Casey Simon (Milwaukee Fire Department), Gary Sharp (Hazard3), and Dr. Christina Baxter (Hazard3).

  • Hazmat Instructor of the Year - Tyler Hoke, Greensboro Fire Department
Hazmat Instructor of the Year 2022 v2

From Left to Right: Erica Bernstein (CHEMTREC), Joe Milazzo (CHEMTREC), Tyler Hoke (Greensboro Fire Department), Dr. Christina Baxter (Hazard3), and Gary Sharp (Hazard3).