In 2025, the Annual LAFD Merit Scholar Fund for the 19th time selected an exceptional group of college-bound students to receive Merit Scholar Awards. Each Merit Scholar Award provides up to $40,000 ($10,000 per year) for students pursuing a college degree. Eligible applicants are children or stepchildren of active, permanently disabled, or fallen sworn members of the Los Angeles Fire Department. While academic achievement is the primary factor, the all-civilian Selection Committee also considers character, leadership, and extracurricular achievement.
2025 LAFD Merit Scholar Award Recipients
SAMANTHA ARMITAGE – A Valencia High School senior and daughter of Captain I Robert Armitage, FS 109. Samantha will attend UCLA to major in Astrophysics, inspired by Carl Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Stephen Hawking. Graduating with a 4.76 GPA, she excelled academically and served over 230 community hours, including 160 with her mother’s SCV Water Board campaign. A lifelong Girl Scout, she earned the Bronze Award for her hospital project on heart disease awareness. A four-year athlete and captain of the girls’ cross-country team, she led nearly 100 athletes to two CIF preliminaries and earned multiple athletic honors. As President of Science Olympiad, she helped her team place 6th in Rocks and Minerals at the 2023 Antelope Valley competition and organizes STEM demos for local schools. Samantha plans to pursue a master’s degree and contribute to astrophysics research. Honors & Awards: 4.76 GPA, Valedictorian Candidate – 2025, AP Scholar with Distinction – 2024, Viking Valor Awards – English, French, Math. Top Senior, Cross Country – 2024, Coaches & Most Improved, Track & Field – 2024.
CARSON EDGINGTON – Valedictorian of Monrovia High School and son of Captain I Matthew Edgington, FS 100. Carson will attend UCLA to major in Political Science with a minor in Professional Writing, aiming for a career in law. His passion for writing and argumentation deepened through a legal internship at Tedford and Associates. Graduating with a 4.6 GPA, he balanced AP coursework, athletics, and community service while managing ADHD. Carson served through church and Kiwanis Key Club, volunteered at civic events, and delivered meals to unhoused families. A four-year musician and Band President, he led the Wildcat Marching Band and earned the John Philip Sousa Award. Also a Varsity Captain for both Water Polo and Swim, Carson earned multiple athletic honors. Honors & Awards: 4.6 GPA, Valedictorian – 2025, Scholar Athlete – 2022–2025, John Philip Sousa Award – 2025, Math Scholar & Renaissance Student of the Month – 2024, Varsity Captain – Water Polo & Swim – 2025, Coaches & Player of the Month Awards.
ISABELLA “BELLA” PORRETTA – A senior at Fairmont Preparatory Academy and daughter of Engineer Alexander Porretta, FS 49, Bella will attend CSU Long Beach, double majoring in Cinematic Arts and Psychology. Growing up in the fire service community inspired her documentary on firefighter PTSD, a project that earned the 2024 UFLAC Grant. She founded a Little Free Library turned literacy hub and led initiatives for wildfire relief and children with cancer. As President of the National Honor Society and International Thespian Honor Society, she combined leadership with creativity. A theater artist and filmmaker, Bella wrote, directed, and produced Chaos and Calendars – 2025 and leads Husky Vision, her school’s broadcast program, to national recognition. Honors & Awards: 5.0 GPA, Visual & Performing Arts Student of the Year – 2022–2024, IB Art & Multimedia Arts Student of the Year – 2023, AP Scholar – 2024, Best Production – ISP Film Festival – 2024, UFLAC Grant Recipient – 2024, OC Artist of the Year Nominee – 2024–2025, Husky Scholar Athlete.
LINCOLN SAILHAMER – A Fullerton Union High School senior and son of Captain I Michael Sailhamer, FS 58. Lincoln will attend UCLA to major in Biology, aspiring to become a physician serving communities in the U.S. and abroad, including Mozambique, where he has family ties. From 2022–2025, he volunteered over 200 hours teaching English to girls at Escola Evanjáfrica in Mozambique, inspiring his IB Extended Essay on malaria’s public health impact. At school, he served as President and Treasurer of both the California Scholarship Federation and National Honor Society, leading multiple community projects. A four-year Varsity Basketball player and Team Captain, he also competed in Water Polo and Swim, earning MVP and Scholar Athlete honors. Honors & Awards: AP Scholar – 2024, Top 100 Scholar – 2022–2025, Scholar Athlete – 2022–2025, Student of the Year – IB Spanish – 2023–2024, Team Captain, Varsity Basketball – 2024–2025.
Runners-Up Award Winners ($7,500)
Michael Fortini, Miller French, Mackenzie Lusk, Mattea Mattison, and Sawyer Moore
Best Essay Award ($7,500)
Michael Fortini
Community Service Award ($7,500)
(co-sponsored with the LAFD Foundation)
Miller French
Special thanks to the LAFD Merit Scholarship Fund Board of Directors –President Dick Barrett, Secretary John Anglin, Treasurer Molly Taylor, and Directors John Bowlin, Jim Ford, Jay Langan, Andrew McDonald, Brian Sullivan, and Jim Vincent for their dedication and support. As the 2025 Awards Ceremony was canceled due to disruptions in the downtown LA area, award recipients will be recognized during the 2026 Ceremony.
LAFD Scholarship Fund + Level All
The LAFD Scholarship Fund has partnered with Level All to provide every sworn LAFD member’s family free access to its personalized college and career platform. Level All offers expert-created counseling tools and content to support high school and college students. Such tools include, college and scholarship search, career exploration, résumé building, and budgeting resources. Visit LAFD.org/scholarship for more information on free membership and to access the Level All Interest Form.
The 2026 Merit Scholar Awards
Open for filing
January 1, 2026
LAFD.org/scholarship