Tye Seets Memorial Public Safety Scholarship

The TYE SEETS MEMORIAL PUBLIC SAFETY SCHOLARSHIP was created for those wanting to obtain education to begin or further a career in either fire or police service.  This is one of three educational scholarships that Prescott Firefighter's Charities is proud to sponsor.  Application is open to all Yavapai County residents, as well as Yavapai County public safety agency employees who are not residents, and their immediate families.  More information and application link can be found below.

                               

This scholarship was created to honor Prescott Fire Department's own, Tye Seets.  Tye was a 3^rd generation born and raised Prescottonian.  He was the epitome of a small-town good ‘ol boy, a born leader and hard worker who didn’t mind getting dirty, and loved to have fun.  He grew up running around fire and police stations since his beloved Uncle J.W. works for CAFMA, his beloved Uncle Nate for Prescott Fire, and his mom for YCSO until he was 11, and then for YPTPD.  He never knew what it was like to not be part of the first-responder family.    

Most important to Tye were God, family, and country – in that order.  His passions were hunting, fishing, bodybuilding, baseball, anything to do with guns, bows, or knives, and his Chevy trucks.  A phenomenal LHP and outstanding first-baseman, he declined offers to further a career in baseball in order to carry out the vow that he'd made when he was just a 7-year-old (already) fierce patriot; on September 11, 2001, he swore he was going to "get those bad guys" just as soon as he was old enough.  So, following in the footsteps of both of his great-grandpas, he joined the Army as an infantryman right after high school.  He excelled there and was assigned to the elite 101^st Airborne, where he served as a sniper and scout team leader in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, making good on his promise and indeed "getting" many "bad guys". 

Upon his separation from the Army, he came home to Prescott to join the fire service and work alongside his hero, his Uncle Nate.  He loved Prescott Fire and excelled there, as well.  At the time of his death, he was also serving as the President of PFFC, another job he truly loved.  His heart for helping others was huge.  Tye had a sharp mind, was fiercely loyal, had an incredible sense of humor, and was completely unmatched as a prankster.   

One of Tye’s favorite things to say, and a motto he lived by, was “Put in the work”.  He believed wholeheartedly in working hard, honesty, integrity, and in never giving up or quitting – no matter what.  He left a legacy not only of these things, but also inspired changes to how our local fire departments handle mental health needs.  Tye had PTSD, which is not abnormal.  His death, though, was not only unbelievable, but totally out-of-character for Tye.  During an incredibly intense dissociative state, Tye sacrificed his life; believing it to be the only way to protect his family from himself as he first lost the ability to separate reality from what was going on in his head, and then the ability to maintain control of his actions. 

As a result of the inconceivability of his death, an in-depth study of his history, the circumstances leading up to his death, and the symptoms he displayed that went unrecognized by everyone, including himself, was done.  That study revealed that he also had Moral Injury.  No one, least of all Tye, had ever even heard of it, let alone knew what to do about it – or what it could do.  The combination of PTSD and Moral Injury led to the dissociative state that cost him his life, leaving his family, friends, and community shocked and devastated.  If only he’d had the help he didn’t even realize he needed, things would have been so different. 

As a result of his death, in the wake of the devastation, and faced with the awful knowledge that something like this could fall one of the absolute strongest among us, our local public safety agencies began looking at how mental health problems were handled, implementing changes, and making available new and outstanding resources.  Attitudes towards mental health challenges shifted significantly.  A local counselor re-vamped her practice to serve and focus solely on first responders and military, and began working with public safety agencies directly to help and educate.  A local Mighty Oaks outpost was instituted.  Moral Injury education has been, and will continue to be, presented at a multitude of training and public forum venues, providing not only an understanding of the problem and ways to address it, but also insight for those who were previously unaware of its existence.  Tye’s family feels that these much-needed and invaluable changes are yet another example of him continuing to help others, even after his death.  That’s absolutely how he’d want it.  #onemorerepfortye

PFFC is proud to honor our past president, our friend, brother, and son, and his legacy, with this scholarship. 

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS HAVE CLOSED FOR 2024.  YOU MAY, HOWEVER, APPLY FOR A 2025 SCHOLARSHIP AT ANY TIME AND YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE HELD FOR THE NEXT SELECTION CYCLE.  2025 APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MARCH 1, 2025, AND SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED IN MAY, 2025.

Please click HERE to download the application.    The application deadline is March 1st of the current year, with scholarships to be awarded the following May.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.