After a long and difficult review, the PFRA Scholarship Committee selected four outstanding sons and daughters of Plano firefighters to receive this year’s scholarship awards. Congratulations to Zachary Willits, Megan Westwood, Ciarra Redden, and Landon Clark!
Thanks to an anonymous donor, PFRA was able to award four, $1000 scholarships this year instead of only three. PFRA is very appreciative to our pubic and private sponsors as they support of our charitable activities that benefit the families of Plano Fire-Rescue.
Zachary Willits is the son of Lieutenant Christopher Willits at Station 5, C Shift, and is a recent graduate of Plano East Senior High School in a class size of 1382, finishing with a weighted GPA of 4.25. Zachary has been accepted at Texas A&M University in College Station where he will be majoring in Psychology and “studying on the pre-med track”. He stated that although he is “pursuing a career in Psychiatry”, if he doesn’t get into medical school, he wants to continue his education to become a licensed sports psychologist.
Megan Westwood, is the daughter of Captain Craig Westwood at Station 13, B Shift. Megan graduated from Royce City HS ranking 10 out of her class of 502 and a GPA of 4.972. Megan has also been accepted at Texas A&M University in College Station and aspires to major in Biomedical Science program and plans to move on to medical school specializing in pediatrics as a pediatric oncologist or orthopedic.
Ciara Redden is the daughter of Cheyne Redden at Station 5, C Shift. She graduated from Pottsboro High School with a GPA of 4.671/5.0 and completed dual college credits with a GPA of 3.90/4.0. She ranked in the top 2% of her class. Ciara’s set her career goal of becoming a surgeon when she was in second grade after watching Ben Carson’s biography, “Gifted Hands”. She wanted to be like him and to “be able to help so many people”, and her job would never become boring”. Ciara will be on her way towards reaching her goal as she heads to the University of Texas in Austin majoring in Biology on the pre-medical track. After attaining her bachelor’s degree in Biology, she intends to apply to a medical school for her doctorate, followed by an internship and residency, and working towards becoming pediatric surgeon.
Landon Clark is the son of Ryan Clark, Battalion Chief – Special Operations. Landon graduated in 2022 from Rockwall High School with a GPA of 4.156 and is currently enrolled in the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Aviation Sciences Institutes program in Durant, Oklahoma pursuing a BS degree in Aviation. His overall educational and career goals “revolve around completing the core curriculum …to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and flight experience to become an airline pilot” with a strong determination to “contribute his passion, dedication and unwavering commitment to safety and excellence to fulfill [his] dream of soaring the skies as a Southwest Airlines pilot.”