For SUNY Morrisville students Aidan “AJ” Martel and Aidan Drum, “free time” looks a lot different than it does for most college students. They never know when an emergency call will send them racing out the door.
As active members of the Morrisville Fire Department, Martel and Drum log countless hours responding to medical emergencies, fires, motor-vehicle accidents and community outreach events. Drum also serves as an EMT and is a member of the college’s lacrosse team. Martel volunteers with SEVAC (Smithfield-Eaton Volunteer Ambulance Corps), in addition to his fire service.
Their dedication extends beyond the campus. Martel, from Stillwater in Saratoga County, also volunteers with the Arvin Hart Fire Company, while Drum, of Pleasant Valley, serves as a member of the Salt Point Fire Company back home.
“If I have free time, that is pretty much what I am doing,” Drum said, describing how volunteering shapes his days.
As International Volunteer Day approaches on Dec. 5, SUNY Morrisville proudly spotlights the student-volunteers making a difference every day, students like Martel and Drum, whose service honors a long family tradition of answering the call.
For both, volunteering is a calling. “It’s all about helping people,” Drum said. “We are there when they need it most, and that is a great feeling.”
Martel echoed the sentiment, adding, “The love for it keeps me motivated. Knowing I can make a difference keeps me coming back.”
Their commitment to service complements their career goals. Drum, a diesel technology student, hopes to become either a diesel mechanic or a paid firefighter. Martel, an automotive technology — Ford ASSET student, aspires to work as an automotive technician or pursue firefighting professionally.
Their dedication carries over into their daily lives. Before many students even start their day, Martel and Drum are already on alert.
“You literally go from being in bed to out the door sometimes,” Drum said, referring to his emergency pager and phone app that can call him to action at any hour.
Balancing classes with life-saving responsibilities isn’t easy, but they’ve learned to manage both.
Their commitment doesn’t go unnoticed.
“I have a tremendous respect for local people and students who volunteer to help people in our district,” said Dan Akers, Martel’s professor and fellow SEVAC volunteer.
“Someone usually has my pager,” Drum said. “I’ve run out of the middle of practice before to go to a fire.”
Despite the challenges, neither hesitates. “When it goes off I am out the door,” Martel said of his pager.
SEVAC alone responds to 800-1,000 calls a year, according to Akers. Martel is preparing to take EMT classes and will return from winter break earlier than most students to train.
What keeps them going is a question they are asked often. For Martel, the answer is simple. “It’s a part of me, and I can’t get away from it now.”
“It is a part of me now,” Drum echoed. “I tried it out and fell in love with it.”
Training is a constant part of their commitment. There are Tuesday night drills and ongoing courses that never seem to slow down. “The amount of training you need seems to keep going up,” Drum said — one of several reasons behind the nationwide volunteer shortage.
Both recall a recent fire in which they were dispatched at 11 p.m., returned at 7 a.m., took a quick shower and made it to class with no sleep or hesitation. Those moments reflect the dedication they bring to every call and the same determination guiding them through their academic journey.
