A Sheepshead Bay high school is honoring the legacy of a graduate who died in the line of duty with a new scholarship for students dedicated to service.
Earlier this month, St. Edmund Preparatory High School announced the launch of the inaugural Steven H. Pollard ’06 Memorial Scholarship. Offered in partnership with the Steven H. Pollard Foundation, the award will go to two junior students each year — one male and one female — who administrators said will be selected on the basis of good character, demonstrated community service, academic effort, and financial need.
The half-tuition scholarship will be given in memory of Pollard, a firefighter and graduate of St. Edmund’s Class of 2006. Pollard served as a member of Ladder Company 170 in Canarsie and was just 30 years old when he died responding to a motor vehicle accident on the Mill Basin Bridge on Jan. 6, 2019.
“We are extraordinarily grateful to the Steven H. Pollard Memorial Foundation, the Pollard Family, and FDNY Ladder 170/Engine 257/Battalion 58 for their generosity in establishing the Steven H. Pollard ’06 Memorial Scholarship at St. Edmund Prep,” said Principal Allison McGinnis in a statement. “Steven’s selfless dedication to the City of New York exemplifies all that we hope our graduates to be as they fulfill our mission in the world.”
The first two Steven H. Pollard ’06 Memorial Scholarships were awarded to students Ziaire Hope and Sienna James during a ceremony at the Ocean Avenue high school on April 18.
School staff say Hope is known for his quiet leadership, impeccable manners, and involvement in various school activities such as the Stage Crew and the SEP Ambassadors. He is also recognized for his dedication to the swim team and his role as Student Director in the school’s musical production of “Guys and Dolls.”
Meanwhile, James is an exceptional student-athlete, excelling in honors and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and participating in sports such as swimming, softball, and volleyball at the varsity level. She is actively involved in planning the Junior prom and is known for her willingness to help others.
Principal McGinnis hopes the new scholarship will go far beyond just honoring deserving students.
“We pray that this scholarship will not only directly benefit our students but will also serve as a lasting reminder of Steven’s bravery, courage, and compassion for our students for generations to come,” she said.
Pollard was also recently memorialized with a street co-naming at the corner of Avenue S and East 35th Street. The block where the firefighter grew up is now co-named ‘Firefighter Steven Pollard Way.”
