More information:
Wren Barnes
Director, Marketing and Communications
303-914-6260
Wren.Barnes@rrcc.edu
www.rrcc.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2021

RRCC Establishes Shelby and Cody Allen Memorial Scholarship
Red Rocks Community College Scholarship Established in Memory of Local Firefighters Killed by Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

LAKEWOOD, CO - Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) has announced the Shelby and Cody Allen Memorial Scholarship to pay tribute to the firefighting couple that tragically lost their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning at their home in December 2020.

Shelby Allen, 27, and Cody Allen, 29, worked at the Central City, CO, Fire Department, where Cody served as a lieutenant and Shelby Allen volunteered as a firefighter. The annual scholarship will be awarded in the Fall of 2022 semester. A call for applications will open up mid-November via the RRCC Foundation.

“This was a tragedy for our entire community. This scholarship allows us to educate the next generation of firefighters in Cody and Shelby’s memory.”, Chief Gary Allen said.

The scholarship is being funded in its initial year by the Knox Company, a Phoenix-based company that specializes in rapid access solutions for first responders.

“Everything we design and manufacture at Knox has the purpose of increasing firefighter safety, so we were heartbroken to hear about Shelby and Cody,” said Joni Trempala, President of the Knox Company. “We believe this scholarship is a great way to honor the loss of a young couple that were dedicated to serving their community. They deserve a legacy that commemorates their passions, contributions and commitment to help others.”

Since the early 1970’s, Red Rocks Community College has offered the Fire Science program. A Fire Science Academy was launched in 1993. The program is part of the Emergency and Public Safety Department, encompassing emergency response programs, specifically Emergency Management and Planning, Emergency Medical Services, and Law Enforcement Training.

The scholarship is for students enrolled in RRCC’s Fire Science program. There is a preference for students who graduated from a high school in Gilpin or Clear Creek counties or from Nederland High School. Gifts to the fund can be made directly to the Red Rocks Community College Foundation or online at https://www.coloradogives.org/AllenMemorial. Interested applicants can call Travis Ogburn at 303-914-6426 for additional information.

About the RRCC Foundation
Established in 1991, the Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) Foundation is dedicated to supporting Red Rocks Community College in its commitment to students, learning, and excellence. Through seeking and allocating supplemental resources, the RRCC Foundation works to break down financial barriers for students and enhance instruction and programming across the college, ensuring students of all income levels receive an excellent higher education experience from dedicated faculty and staff. Foundation initiatives include scholarships to more than 300 students annually, mini-grants supporting staff and faculty projects, a teaching chair program that recognizes outstanding faculty, and other initiatives that enhance programming and instruction. Since its inception, the RRCC Foundation has raised more than $25 million to support the college and its students.

About Red Rocks Community College
Established in 1969, Red Rocks Community College delivers high-quality, affordable education programs leading to degrees or professional certificates. The college serves over 10,000 students per year online and at campus locations in Lakewood and Arvada. www.rrcc.edu.

# # #