The Bedford Firefighters Association recently awarded two $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors in Bedford on June 14 at the BHS awards night.

Seniors Julia Murphy and Stephanie Stevens from Bedford High School were each awarded with a $1,000 scholarship for college from the Norman Richards Memorial Scholarship funded by the Bedford Firefighters Association.

The Norman Richards Memorial Scholarship was created after firefighter Norman Richards was lost in a plane crash in Boston in 1974. In 1975, his widow provided the seed money for the scholarship, and the members of Bedford Firefighters Association continue the scholarship each year through fundraising programs such as the annual Firemen’s Ball and the Tool Boot drive. To date, the association has presented more than $100,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors.

The Bedford Firefighters Association provides funding for the scholarship program, to purchase equipment for the fire department and ambulance, as well as for the Relief Association. More information is available at bedforfirenh.com.