Matthew Scheel Memorial Scholarship

Matthew Scheel was dedicated volunteer Firefighter and EMT serving with the Elk Creek Fire and North Fork Fire Departments in Conifer and Pine, Colorado.

In 2003, his strong desire to give back to his community led him to become volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician. (Driving big fire trucks was just a bonus!) He served the community as a volunteer firefighter for over 15 years and often earned Volunteer of the Year award. He worked the Lower North Fork Wildfire in 2012 and participated in many fire operations and rescues over the years. He volunteered at numerous community events such as the Big Chili Arts & Music Festival in Evergreen, Bandimere race events, the National Western Stock Show, and many more.

Growing up in the mountains, he savored skiing, playing, and working in his hometown. He loved to develop friendships and treasured his time with family and numerous friends. Time seemed to stand still for Matt as he connected with each one. Whether you were a client, co-worker, or acquaintance, Matt had the ability to make each person feel like you were his best friend. He had this innate ability to know when you need a hug and he gave the BEST bear hugs, just ask all who knew him. Known as 'Uncle Matty' to many, he was a trusted friend and served as backup emergency contact for many of his friends' children. Matt enjoyed teaching children about the fire service. He always participated in fire district open house events to support the teach kids about fire safety or make sure that Santa arrived safely to hear the children's Christmas wish list. He loved that he was able to encourage and support anyone interested in becoming a fire responder. It was his passion to help anyone with the desire to serve their community.

Matt founded his own design-build services firm, Architrades. He worked on a wide variety of projects in the Denver, Boulder, and his beloved mountain communities. In 2013, BMS Architectural Design Services was established with Steve Brockman, with Matt as the principal architectural designer.

Matt was a Colorado native born in Grand Junction and grew up in Confer, Colorado attending elementary and middle school in Aspen Park and graduating from Evergreen High School in 1987. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1993. On September 19, 2018, Matt left our world after suffering a cerebral aneurysm at his home.

To continue the legacy of his service, a Firefighter / EMS scholarship has been established to support future Firefighter/EMS students.

We are grateful for your contribution to the scholarship that supports the mountain and rural communities of the Colorado Front Range.