The Associated Press
ALLENDALE, Mich. — A scholarship has been created at Grand Valley State University in memory of an alumnus who died battling a wildfire in Washington state.
The university says the scholarship was formed in honor of 31-year-old Richard Wheeler, who was one of three firefighters who died last week when flames consumed their crashed vehicle. Wheeler is from South Haven and graduated from Grand Valley in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management.
The scholarship will be open to students who are dependents of fallen first responders, including firefighters, paramedics and police officers.
Grand Valley says a memorial service for Wheeler is being planned.