Featuring Alumni
Featuring Alumni is a new column showcasing UMUC alumni. In this first segment we focus on a 2001 graduate who has achieved a lot in fire service at a young age.

Fire Service Is His Calling; Overachiever Extraordinaire Is His Name

By Andrea Martino

At the first President's Breakfast Forum at UMUC, guest speaker Matthew Stevens (center), a UMUC alumnus, is joined (from left) by father, Daniel, mother, Bobbi, brother, Philip, and friend, Jen Gordy.

Remember debating what major you'd choose in college—and, if you're like most, changing your mind a couple of times
. . . both before and after graduation?

One gets the feeling that this was not the case for Matthew Stevens. To say he's achieved a lot at a young age would be an understatement. By age 22, Stevens had completed his undergraduate degree in fire science at UMUC—on the dean's list, of course—had served as a firefighter for seven years, received two Chief's Awards at the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department, and was among the first graduates of the Charles County Fire/Rescue Cadet Program and one of the Top Ten Responders for his fire department seven years running. He is nationally certified as a firefighter, fire inspector, fire investigator, and in hazardous materials operations.

Not surprisingly, for such a busy man, Stevens chose UMUC's online fire science program.

"I loved online learning," he said. "It fit my schedule to a T. I got a new job driving a private ambulance, making twice as much as I was, and I could remain very active as a volunteer firefighter, ranking in the top five in the number of responses—all while I was a full-time student."

There's more. Stevens is also a Maryland state fire marshal.

Being one means that, as a fire law enforcement employee, Stevens must know a myriad of life safety code and criminal law violations. So, add to the already impressive list of achievements and accolades that Stevens is a Maryland certified police officer, having successfully completed the police academy in December 2001 and the National Fire Academy's Fire/Arson Investigation program in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in June 2002. In determining the cause of any fire he must be authorized to arrest individuals suspected of committing arson or setting off explosions.

Steven's younger brother, Philip, is following in his brother's footsteps and is currently enrolled in the fire service program.

"I truly believe it was because of my degree at UMUC that my dream to become a deputy state fire marshal came true," Stevens said. "Now, I feel as though I am giving back to the state that provided me the opportunity to continue my education in fire science."