Award Purpose

Recognition of an outstanding rookie firefighter / EMS provider.

Award Sponsor

Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company

Award Administration

Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company and MSFA Elected Officers

Description

The Past President C. Oscar Baker Rookie of the Year Award was established by the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company and accepted by the MSFA Executive Committee in 2002. The award was established to honor Past President C. Oscar Baker for his sixty (60) years of active service to the citizens of Mount Airy, the surrounding communities, Carroll County and the State of Maryland. Past President Baker has served as President of the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company, President of the Carroll County Volunteer Firemen’s Association and President of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association (1978-79). Past President Baker retired as Fire Chief of the National Bureau of Standards Fire Department and then served as the Volunteer Coordinator for Carroll County for several years. He was a field instructor for the Fire Service Extension and later the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute for several decades. Past President Baker has served as Chairperson of several committees of the MSFA, including: the Training Committee, Hall of Fame, and the Centennial Committee. The Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company sees it fitting to honor a person beginning their emergency service career with an award to encourage them to reach the high level of service and dedication to our citizens that Past President C. Oscar Baker exemplifies. This award is to be presented at the Annual MSFA Convention and Conference .

Submission Deadline: April 15

Award Rules

1. Nominee must be from a member company or department of the MSFA.

2. Any active member of a member company or department of the MSFA may submit the name of a nominee for the award.

3. Junior / cadet members of a member company or department are NOT eligible for this award. Time spent as a junior / cadet member does not count towards the 24 months of service.

4. Nominee must be an active senior member of the sponsoring company or department, and at least 17 years of age at the time of award application.

5. Nominee must have at least 6 months, but less than 24 months of active membership with the sponsoring company or department, calculated from the April 15th application due date.

6. A nominee that transfers from one company or department to another is not eligible for the award unless their total time of membership is less than 24 months combined.

7. Nominations in the form of a resume must be submitted on an individual basis only and on official company or department letterhead or stationary. All entries received, will be reviewed for eligibility prior to judging.

8. Nominations must be submitted to, and received by the MSFA Secretary no later than April 15th of each year. Late entries will NOT be considered.

9. All of the elected officers of the MSFA will judge nominees.

10. The mailing address for entries is:

Doyle E. Cox, Secretary
Maryland State Firemen’s Association
29132 Superior Circle
Easton, MD 21601

Upon selection of the winner of the award, the President of Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company shall be notified no later than May 15th of the selection. This will allow for preparation of the personal trophy and the recording of the individual’s name on the master trophy.

The master trophy will have the date of the award, name, and company or department of the recipient engraved thereon and will, for one year from date of presentation until the next MSFA annual Convention and Cconference, remain in the responsible custody of the honored individual’s company or department. The personal trophy also, suitably endorsed will be presented to the individual to covet and keep. The selected award winner will also receive the C. Oscar Baker Rookie of the Year Medal and Ribbon Bar, which was approved by the MSFA Executive Committee in 2002. The ribbon is blue/red and the gold medal is inscribed, Oscar Baker Rookie of the Year, with the year and the MSFA Seal in the center.

Year	Recipient	Department	County
2022	Luke Stevens	Middletown	Frederick
2021	Brenden Donais	Potomac Heights	Charles
2020	Jeb G. Hayden	7th District VFD	St. Mary’s
2019	William Piercen Madiary	Long Green	Baltimore
2018	Noah C. Day	North East	Cecil
2017	Andrew Eppley	Manchester	Carroll
2016	Nicholas Aldridge	Maryland City	Anne Arundel
2015	Keith Clemente	Winfield Community	Carroll
2014	Kaitlyn Stainaker	Odenton	Anne Arundel
2013	Jesse Cade	Herald Harbor	Anne Arundel
2012	Nicholas Haspert	Winfield Community	Carroll
2011	Brandy Guy	Seventh District VFD	St. Mary's
2010	Tyler Olson	Ferndale	Anne Arundel
2009	Charles Cadden	Arbutus	Baltimore
2008	Michael Offutt	Woodsboro	Frederick
2007	Jennifer Chafin	Branchville	Prince George's
2006	Jeffery A. Martin	Potomac Valley	Washington
2005	Rachel Goucher	Middletown	Frederick
2004	Derek R. Dods	Mt. Airy	Carroll
2003	Matthew Ross	Odenton	Anne Arundel
2002	Chris McDonald	Maryland City	Anne Arundel