By Susan Bryant

sbryant@tnonline.com

New Tripoli resident Allison Costa, a 2019 Northwestern Lehigh graduate, was recently named as a recipient of the Samir Ashmar Scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year.

“Each year the Scholarship Committee awards three students with a $2,000 scholarship as recognition of their dedication to the field of emergency services,” an letter from Upper Macungie Township Station 56 states.

Samir “Sam” Ashmar was a firefighter, emergency medical technician and fire marshal for Station 56 when he tragically died following an emergency call in 2014.

A lifelong learner, Ashmar was a firefighter at Goodwill Fire Company, Trexlertown, and Lower Macungie Fire Company, Wescosville.

After his death, family and friends established the scholarship program.

Amy Costa, Allison’s mother commented on the scholarship in an email to The Press.

“This is very generous and an honor to be awarded in Sam’s Ashmar’s memory,” she stated. “His memory should be remembered and honored.”

Allison was a member of the Emerging Health Program affiliated with Lehigh Carbon Community College, Penn State and local high schools.

“The program takes the top students from local schools,” Amy Costa wrote. “It’s a very rigorous program with taking college classes-anatomy and physiology,

“They shadow health care providers. Allie observed open heart surgery, spent eight hours in the emergency room, and so many other medical opportunities by attending this program.

“On her own, she volunteered at Lehigh Valley Hospital, completed her certified nursing assistant program to work and earn clinical hours, and other health related volunteer and shadow hours.”

Allison attends DeSales University and is enrolled in the Accelerated Physician Assistant program.