Members of the Gamber & Community Fire Co. and the Oscar Brothers Family are pleased to announce that Audrey Houle, Charlotte Houle, Carlie Rosewag, and Valeska Zitta have been named the winners of the 2023 Oscar Brothers Memorial Scholarship. All four winners graduated from Westminster High School and reside in Gamber’s response area.

This scholarship is jointly sponsored by the Oscar Brothers family and the Gamber & Community Fire Company, and it awards a combined total to each student of up to $21,000.00 over four years. This is the sixteenth year of the scholarship program that is funded by the Brothers Family and managed by the fire company.

As part of the scholarship requirements, each winner is required to complete 40 hours of community service annually and maintain a 2.5 or better GPA in college. The student must reside in Gamber & Community Fire Co.'s first due district.

Audrey Houle graduated in June and will be attending High Point University in High Point, NC. She plans on pursuing a degree in exercise science and graduate work in physical therapy and prosthetics. She is the daughter of Keli and Brent Houle of Finksburg.

Charlotte Houle graduated in June and will be attending Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. She plans on pursuing majors in graphic design and creative writing. She is the daughter of Keli and Brent Houle of Finksburg.

Carlie Rosewag graduated in June and will be attending Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD. She plans on pursuing a nursing degree. She is the daughter of Caroline and John Rosewag of Westminster.

Valeska Zitta graduated in June and will be attending the University of Maryland College Park. She will be majoring in biochemistry and sociology and will pursue a career in public health and possibly specializing in either global health studies or psychiatric epidemiology. She is currently serving an internship at the Frederick National Cancer Institute at Ft. Detrick in Maryland. She is the daughter of Anna and Peter Zitta of Finksburg.

All four students had outstanding academic achievement in high school, excellent test scores, extra-curricular activities, community service, and they all contributed well-thought-out written essays.

The fire company is also pleased to announce one additional scholarship award. This scholarship is funded directly by the fire company and is intended for members of the department or relatives of members.

Kayla Sherfey is awarded a two-year scholarship. Kayla is a Westminster High School graduate and a 2022 graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a BS degree in Biology. She will be attending Arcadia University in Delaware to pursue a Physician’s Assistant Master of Medical Science degree. Kayla has been a member of the fire company since 2020 and is an EMT. She is the daughter of Kara and Brian Sherfey of Westminster. Her brother, Kyle, was a scholarship winner last year.

The fire company congratulates Audrey, Charlotte, Carlie, Valeska, and Kayla as this year's Gamber & Community Fire Co. scholarship winners.