Log in

NEIGHBORS

College years helped Surprise firefighter follow dreams

Posted 8/30/20

Brad Sawin was able to channel his communication, teamwork, and want to help and serve others to become a firefighter for the Surprise Fire-Medical Department.

His dream became a reality in May.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
NEIGHBORS

College years helped Surprise firefighter follow dreams

Posted

Brad Sawin was able to channel his communication, teamwork, and want to help and serve others to become a firefighter for the Surprise Fire-Medical Department.

His dream became a reality in May, as he graduated from fire academy, and was awarded the Gary Pykare Award and Pure Fitness Award for his graduating class. Mr. Sawin has also been able to use his business savvy gained at Menlo College, as he also is licensed to practice real estate in Arizona.

Mr. Sawin began his career at the college in Atherton, Calif., as a touted men’s basketball recruit from Ironwood High School in Glendale.

He went on to say, “Menlo allowed me the opportunity to get my education, to play collegiate sports, and to meet some incredible people,” He credits his Menlo classmates, teammates, professors, and coaches for “teaching me to do what I’m passionate about and that’s what ultimately led me into pursuing my dream career of being a firefighter.” 

He began his career on the basketball court, where, in three seasons, he started 68 games and averaged eight points and three rebounds per game.  In his senior year, however, Brad’s love of learning pushed in a different direction, as he chose to try out for the newly formed Menlo College men’s volleyball team.  He made the team and found a reinvigorated passion for sport again.

“The volleyball program made playing sports fun and exciting again,” Mr. Sawin said. “It gave me the opportunity to learn something new every day.”

He started at outside hitter, as he would finish third on the team with 104 kills to go along with three service aces, 50 digs, and 21 blocks.

When he graduated in 2018, Mr. Sawin earned the unique distinction of Menlo’s first men’s volleyball alumnus.

Mr. Sawin spent two years as a resident assistant. He also was twice awarded with the Richard F. O’Brien Award (2016 and 2018), given to the top male and female student in each grade level at Menlo.

He also was one of the top accounting students at the college, earning an internship at Deloitte. He graduated with honors from in 2018, and although he had earned a full time position with Deloitte, Mr. Sawin had a higher calling to serve his community, moving back to Arizona to pursue his dream.

Mr. Sawin was recently engaged to his college sweetheart and Menlo women’s volleyball alumna Hannah Hudson.