Natalee Coates ’26, a University of Lynchburg Bonner Leader, helped create and carry out a Lynchburg Fire Department initiative that was honored on Feb. 21 at the 2024 Virginia Fire Rescue Conference.
At the conference, the LFD — led by fire chief and alumnus Greg Wormser ’95 — received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Community Risk Reduction for Walkabout Wednesdays, a program that promotes fire safety in at-risk neighborhoods.
According to a press release issued by the City of Lynchburg, Walkabout Wednesdays involved a “series of weekly walk-throughs,” where firefighters and others, including University of Lynchburg students, “would knock on doors and talk with residents about fire safety, while also checking to make sure homes had working smoke detectors.”
Over several weeks in the spring and fall of 2023, “teams installed 168 new smoke alarms, replaced dozens of batteries in others, all while making countless valuable contacts with citizens.”
Coates, a Westover Honors Fellow with a double major in criminology and intelligence studies and a minor in crisis communication, worked with LFD staff last spring to develop the award-winning program.
“I looked through data with the data analyst to determine neighborhoods in Lynchburg that had the highest numbers of recorded structure fires over the past year,” the Madison, Virginia, resident said.
“I assigned [fire] stations to neighborhoods where walkabouts would be taking place, coordinated a predetermined meeting place, and gave directions to firefighters, EMS, and volunteers who were participating.
“Everyone was split into groups and given totes that included everything that would be handed out — smoke alarms, smoke alarm batteries, brochures with fire prevention tips, and contact information, should citizens have questions later on.”
As part of the Bonner Leader Program, students serve 10 hours a week at a nonprofit, school, or government agency as part of a work-study placement. Coates chose LFD and she’ll work there throughout her undergraduate career.
“Through my collaboration with the Lynchburg Fire Department, I learned the importance of experiential learning,” Coates said. “I was able to learn more about the fire department and the needs of the citizens they serve and have come to appreciate their role in our community.
“I was also able to grow as a leader, as I gained more responsibility as the project continued to develop.”
Jonathan Wright, LFD’s deputy chief of administration, praised Coates for her past and continued contributions. “Natalee has played a huge role in our community risk-reduction efforts,” he said. “And perhaps, with the positive encounters, will help the department recruit and attract new talent in the future.
“She has worked on a team and is now leading many facets that have built a sustainable community engagement program built on fire safety. As far as I can tell, Natalee has far exceeded the developmental model outlined in the Bonner program and has represented the University of Lynchburg in a very positive way.”
Coates and her parents attended the awards ceremony in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where Coates received what she described as a “Governor’s coin, the Governor’s stripes that you would put on a uniform, and a pin that says, ‘Governor’s Fire Service Awards.’”
University President Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar was on hand, too. She recommended LFD for the award and sees great value in the department’s collaboration with the University and its Bonner Leader Program.
“The partnership forged has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to enhancing community safety and resilience through innovative and impactful initiatives brought forth by the team,” she wrote in a letter to the Virginia Fire Services Nominating Committee.
Morrison-Shetlar added that the collaboration also involved the American Red Cross and a local business, which provided volunteers for the walkabouts.
“Together, these organizations have demonstrated that collaboration in the community and thoughtful partnerships with stakeholders matter,” she wrote. “I have no doubt that our community is safer, more prepared, and more resilient as a result of this program, and I could not be prouder of our student leader and our partnership with the fire department for making this happen.”
Lynchburg City Manager Wynter Benda agreed. “This partnership between the University of Lynchburg and the Lynchburg Fire Department is yet another example of how working collaboratively with our higher education institutions can benefit everyone,” he wrote in an email to members of Lynchburg City Council.
“Please join me in congratulating Chief Wormser and the entire team on their recognition!”
The University of Lynchburg’s Bonner Leader Program is an initiative of The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation and the University’s Center for Community Engagement. Bonner Leaders serve 10 hours a week at a nonprofit, school, or government agency as part of a work-study placement. Besides their professional skills, Bonner Leaders develop deeper thinking skills through on-campus reflective exercises and educational programming. This helps students understand difference, power, and privilege and prepares them to become passionate leaders.
