NFPA announces scholarship endowment for OSU FPSET students

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has provided more than $100,000 in endowment to the John L. Jablonsky Scholarship for Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology (FPSET) to benefit students at Oklahoma State University (OSU).

The NFPA is a global, self-funded organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and other related hazards. The Association achieves this goal by disseminating information through codes and standards, research, training, education, thought leadership – and by collaborating with those who share their mission.

Dr. Virginia Charter, assistant professor and program coordinator for OSU’s FPSET, recognizes the impact the NFPA has on the program’s students, “the NFPA has always been an important part of our students’ education due to the codes and standards they develop. This scholarship will make a big impact on our students for years to come.”

During its nearly 125-year history, the NFPA has established long-standing partnerships with universities, including OSU, and other forward-thinking entities around the world – typically through scholarships and annual gifts to fire protection programs. However, thanks to generosity of the NFPA and families of those that have dedicated their lives to fire protection, the John L. Jablonsky scholarship has been established to ensure that the commitment to fire and life safety at OSU continues well into the future.

“NFPA is a proud supporter of OSU’s fire protection engineering program and the students who are pursuing careers in the fire and life safety space. Just as John L. Jablonsky did, we recognize that it is important to encourage the next generation of innovators who will usher in new fire safety practices, products and perspectives,” Chris Dubay, NFPA vice president and chief engineer said. “John was extremely dedicated to NFPA’s mission and the engineering discipline. NFPA is pleased to honor his achievements by endorsing the bright future of fire protection engineering at Oklahoma State University.”

Jablonsky earned his mechanical engineering degree from New York University. During his career he served as the firefighting superintendent with the Strategic Air Command and also spent time as the vice president of engineering and safety services for the National Board of Fire Underwriters, which later became the American Insurance Association. In 1970, President Nixon appointed Jablonsky to the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control which is credited with furthering the nation’s education on fire consciousness and facilitating the widespread use of in-home fire detectors. For more than 30 years, Jablonsky served NFPA in different volunteer capacities. For his contributions, he was awarded the organization’s highest honor, the Paul C. Lamb Award. Jablonsky was the chairman of the NFPA Standards Council when he passed in 1992.

“NFPA sees this as an opportunity to highlight the fact that the graduates of the fire protection program at OSU have a direct and meaningful impact on protecting people and property,” Dubay said. “By continuing our support and investment in OSU graduates, we are ensuring that the mission of the NFPA is preserved for decades to come.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Hopper | CEAT Marketing | 405-744-2745 | jeff.hopper@okstate.edu