Exchange Club of Naperville names Firefighter of the Year

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Lt. Amy Scheller was selected as the 2011-2012 Firefighter of the Year. Jane Donahue/For Sun-Times Media/Naperville Sun 20111110 Thursday,Naperville

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Updated: December 21, 2011 8:03AM

Amy Scheller didn’t grow up planning to be a firefighter. But while a student at Aurora University, she volunteered at the Montgomery Fire Department and found her passion.

“I knew I wanted to do something in medicine, and was trying to figure out what direction I wanted to go in,” said Scheller, 39. “Volunteering there was a great opportunity for me. I knew then I wanted to be a firefighter and paramedic.”

Scheller graduated in 1994, and joined the Naperville Fire Department in 1998. In 2010, she became the first female lieutenant in the department’s history.

But for the Montgomery resident, she is simply doing what she loves to do.

“It is really cool to be able to help people on a daily basis,” Scheller said. “There aren’t many jobs that you can go into people’s homes at a terrible time, and the actions you take can change an outcome for a family. That is the best part of the job.”

Scheller recently was recognized by the Exchange Club of Naperville as the 2011-2012 Firefighter of the Year. Club member Marty Walker said the annual award was established 10 years ago to pay honor to the city’s public servants.

“Our firefighters and police officers put their lives on the line every day,” Walker said. “These silent heroes don’t get the recognition they truly deserve. It is an honor for the Exchange Club of Naperville to recognize our heroes.”

Scheller said she appreciates being recognized by the Exchange Club of Naperville, but being a firefighter is a true team effort.

“I was completely and totally surprised by the award,” Scheller said. “As firefighters, you work as a crew, you work as a team. You don’t do this job alone, so it’s tough to get recognized as an individual.”

Naperville Fire Department Chief Mark Puknaitis said Scheller is an asset to both the department and the residents of Naperville.

“The truth about firefighting is, when you are not responding, you are doing a number of other things equally important as the on-the-street activities,” the chief said. “Along with her duties as a firefighter and paramedic, Amy has made significant efforts on behalf of the department and the community.”

Puknaitis said Scheller is not only a company officer, but as a member of the dive team, is a swift-water rescue technician and an emergency rescue diver. She serves on the department’s recruitment team and honor guard, fire investigation team and the DuPage County Arson Task Force. She is also a program coordinator for the department’s Juvenile Fire Setter Program.

“Amy does a variety of things for the department,” he said. “She is very conscious about her continuous training and education, and is always striving for improvement. Amy is a very good reflection of what I would like to see in every member of the Naperville Fire Department.”

As part of the Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year award, Scheller will act as a Ribfest tasting judge, be in the Labor Day parade, and will be involved in the 9/11 ceremony at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial.