Maya McFadden Photo
Six Dwight scholars heading to college have received scholarships from The Firebirds Society of the Greater New Haven, Inc. in honor of keeping alive the influence of George Sweeney, the first black firefighter to serve in a New Haven firehouse.
The Firebirds partnered with the Greater Dwight Development Corporation to fund this year’s lineup of nine scholarships to New Haven’s recent high school graduates. Six scholars received the George Sweeney Scholarship, and three received the Firebirds Scholarship.
Christopher Suggs, Jaidyn Gambrell, Mekhi Watkins, Coree Bellamy, and Darian Handy.
Six of the nine students joined members of the Firebirds and the Dwight community to accept the rewards on Saturday at an outdoor ceremony at 230 Edgewood Ave. The remaining three had already left to schools out of state and were mailed their awards.
The George Sweeney Scholarship awarded the students each $1,032. This year the Firebirds fundraised with Dwight leaders to raise the scholarship money.
The Firebirds scholarship awarded students $750. Executive Vice President of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters and former Firebirds President Gary Tinney encouraged the scholars to keep in contact with the Firebirds and to reach out when in need of networking opportunities and academic help.
Sweeney passed away in 2014 at age 82. His daughter Karen joined the Saturday ceremony to share the history of her father with the scholars.
Sweeney joined the New Haven Fire Department (NHFD) in 1957 as the first Black New Haven line firefighter. Sweeney endured racism and prejudice from his colleagues. This pushed him to fight to diversify the department. Sweeney founded and led the Firebirds organization, which represents Black firefighters.
Fifteen years into serving, Sweeney filed a lawsuit against the Board of Fire Commissioners over the low numbers of minorities hired by the department. The judge ruled in favor of the Firebirds in 1973, forcing the department to institute a one-to-one hiring ratio (one minority officer for every non-minority officer) until 75 Black and Latino firefighters were hired.
Raymond Nelson, Terry Rountree, Gary Tinney, William Augustine, and James Watkins.
After the lawsuit victory, Sweeney’s close friend Raymond Nelson was recruited in 1975 as one of the 75 minorities to join the department. Nelson and Sweeney both retired in 1996.
Nelson and Sweeney were close friends, golf partners, and fire brothers.
“He’s unforgettable. I’m a Firebird for life because of him,” Nelson said at Saturday’s event.
The scholars present Saturday plan to attend Gateway Community College, Louisiana State University, Howard University, Spelman College, and Morgan State University.
This year the Firebirds received 100 applications, which is higher than usual. Firebirds Vice President Terry Rountree said this was due to the effect of the pandemic’s financial strain on families.
Coree Bellamy and Christopher Suggs plan to attend Morgan State University. Bellamy will focus in sociology and pre-law and Suggs on psychology.
Christopher Suggs.
Coree Bellamy with grandmother.
“I’ve been working hard for 12 years. It feels good,” said Bellamy who went to Hillhouse High School.
While studying psychology, Suggs hopes to focus on researching mental health in urban areas. “It’s common for Black teens and young adults to pass away early because of untreated mental health. It’s not talked about enough. I want to address that,” said Suggs, who graduated from Engineering and Science University Magnet School (ESUMS). He is looking forward to returning to Maryland after living there during his sixth and seventh-grade years.
Suggs got an early acceptance to Morgan State. He hopes to use the scholarship money for his semester’s worth of books and then save the rest for next semesters.
In applying for the scholarships, the recipients wrote short essays about themselves and their goals. Suggs wrote about wanting to give back to the community like a true Firebird.
In the past the Firebirds would host a dinner for the recipients. This year’s plans changed due to the pandemic.
Aiden Rountree.
Aiden Rountree, 19, received the Firebirds scholarship and is attending Louisiana State University. Rountree, who attended Achievement First Amistad High School, said he was glad to finally be recognized for his hard work.
Rountree applied for dozens of scholarships but did not hear back from many of them.
“It feels great, I feel seen and actually got a response back,” he said.
The scholarships are meant to not only help the students financially but also motivate them to persue a higher education and always give back to their communities like Sweeney’s memory continues to today, said Firebirds President William Augustine.
Congratulations to the recipients of these scholarships! May you successfully graduate college and follow your dreams for the future.
Thank you to the scholarship fund and the people who make it happen. Your support will make it possible for students to follow their dreams with less financial worries. It's organizations like yours that make a better future for our young people.