By Linda Conner Lambeck
Connecticut Post
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The daughter of fallen firefighter Michel Baik has received a memorial scholarship in her father’s name.
The $1,000 award comes from the International City Management Association Retirement Corp. and can be renewed annually. It will help Margaret Baik, 19, attend Iona College in the fall.
Michel Baik died in the line of duty while serving in the Bridgeport Fire Department. He was one of two firefighters who died while fighting a house fire on Elmwood Avenue in July 2010. The other was Lt. Steven Velasquez.
Margaret Baik subsequently lost her mother, Laurie Baik, in 2016.
The ICMA-RC Public Employee Memorial Scholarship Fund Board of Directors handed out 35 scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year.
The Washington, D.C.-based financial services corporation annually presents scholarships to surviving children and spouses of firefighters, police officers and other public employees who have died in the line of duty.
“It is a pleasure to present Margaret with a scholarship to help further her education,” said Bob Schultze, president and CEO of ICMA-RC and president of the ICMA-RC Vantagepoint Public Employee Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Individuals are eligible to apply for the ICMA-RC Memorial Scholarship if they are the child or spouse of a local or state government employee who has died in the line of duty and planning to study full-time at an accredited two- or four-year college or university, or vocational-technical school.
Applicants are selected based on factors such as financial need, academic record, demonstrated leadership in school and community activities, honors, and work experience.
Since its inception in 2001, more than 275 students have received over $900,000 in scholarship awards.
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