Austin Holland is an extraordinary guy with the humbleness that comes from being raised in a small town. The people around him are eager to help him through a rough patch in his life and he counts that as a blessing rather than a reward. At just 23 years old he has already accomplished enough to be proud of.
Austin is a volunteer firefighter through the Kankakee Township fire department. It is a demanding schedule for a full-time student but Austin spends his free time serving others. It is a sacrifice he does not realize he is making.
“I think that it’s nice when everyone puts something in. Every small piece makes a difference and that’s a humbling feeling.”
He started volunteering during his Junior year in high school, when a friend told him about the program. At first he was not able to go into fires so he assisted by cleaning trucks and wielding the fire hose. In the fall of 2015, after two years of service and intensive training courses, Austin was made an official member of the department.
“After high school, where I was in football, there wasn’t any brotherhood. In the fire department, there is a great group of guys. I want to do what I can to give back to the community.”
Austin also started going to college at Purdue University North Central that Autumn. His is on track to graduate in 2019 with a 4 year Mechanical Engineering degree. This includes a minor in electrical engineering and possibly one in business management.
“I’ve always been good with my hands. My dad was a big part of that. It’s something I could always see myself doing.”
To help pay for his schooling, Austin applied for the Indiana Homeland Security Grant. It is awarded each year to students who are a part of their community’s emergency services network. They can work in an ambulance, with the police force, or in Austin’s case, the fire department. To apply he had to write a cover letter describing his situation and why he thinks he should get the grant. That was a difficult task for the selfless young man.
“I’m not any better than anyone else,” he said. “Everyone deserves this grant, but I am grateful to have been chosen. It was a real nice thing to help me out.”
The application also required a recommendation letter. Fire chief Tom Thode, a mentor Austin has grown quite close to wrote one for him.
Austin won the grant, a $2000 reward for his work in the community. It will be put toward a career that will continue to build the world around him into a better place to live.
He would like to work for Boeing or Oshkosh, the latter of which makes military vehicles for the government. Both are large, well-known companies that are able to impact a wider area than their smaller counterparts. Some day, Austin would like to run a firm of his own.
For now, he is “just an average kid, working hard.” He takes no credit for his successes and instead puts praise on those around him.
“It’s all about who you surround yourself with. There are a lot of good people in [La Porte County]. The people I have been able to meet are incredible.”