Awards and Recognitions

Kimberly Rideout of the Chesterfield Fire and EMS has been selected by the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) as a 2025 NFPA Rising Star, an annual recognition that honors and supports fire and life safety educators who have effectively implemented NFPA programs and initiatives in their communities. Kim is one of 10 recipients chosen for this year’s recognition, which features a scholarship to attend the upcoming NFPA Conference & Expo®, the premier event for fire, electrical, and building safety professionals worldwide, in Las Vegas, NV.

“Kimberly has demonstrated a strong commitment to reducing Chesterfield’s residents’ risk to fire and related hazards through consistent, innovative outreach to residents,” said Kelly Ransdell, director of NFPA’s Public Education Division. “We’re thrilled to recognize them as an NFPA Rising Star, and to help strengthen and support their efforts moving forward.”

Lynchburg Fire Department’s “Walk-About Wednesday” is a Community Risk Reduction (CRR) initiative collaboratively created by the CRR team in the Lynchburg Fire Marshal’s Office and the University of Lynchburg Bonner Program aimed at enhancing community safety and well-being. Key features of the program include going door-to-door with CRR and fire department staff in targeted neighborhoods to provide emergency preparedness information along with installing smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and changing alarm batteries. It should be noted that there was no fiscal impact to the citizens as all materials used were supplied by local business partners. In addition, the program organically created opportunities for stakeholder support as the program grew in popularity. This initiative is a forward-thinking, proactive approach to a traditional challenge. It combines community engagement, data-driven risk assessment, and education to create a safer and more resilient community.  

June 19, 2023 – The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) has announced that Jessica Xenakis is the recipient of the Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year Award for 2023. Ms. Xenakis received her award at the Stars at Night awards gala held on June 18th, in Las Vegas, as part of the annual NFPA Conference and Expo.

Ms. Xenakis currently serves as the Fire and Life Safety Education Coordinator for the Virginia Beach Fire Department (VBFD). With over a decade of instructional experience, she has been instrumental in transforming fire and life safety education within her community since joining VBFD in 2019.

Each year, NFPA presents this award to a dedicated educator who is employed by a local fire department or fire marshal’s office in the U.S. or Canada. The recipient of this award consistently and creatively utilizes NFPA’s materials and demonstrates exceptional innovation in reaching out to the community to address their evolving fire safety needs.

Ms. Xenakis was recognized for successfully launching a comprehensive virtual learning resource, www.vbfdlifesafety.com, and for developing the innovative "Safety Squad" program. This interactive fire and injury prevention curriculum seamlessly aligns with Virginia's Standards of Learning and NFPA’s Educational Messages Advisory Committee Desk Reference.

As a respected figure in her field, Ms. Xenakis also serves as a contract instructor in Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention at the National Fire Academy. Earlier this year, Ms. Xenakis was honored with the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Award of Excellence in Community Risk Reduction, underscoring her pivotal role in promoting community safety.

Jessica Xenakis is a Life Safety Education Supervisor with the Virginia Beach Fire Department. Since joining Virginia Beach Fire Department, Jessica has incorporated her teaching expertise into the creation of a new virtual learning resource (www.vbfdlifesafety.com). She also created the VBFD Safety Squad Program, an interactive station-based fire and injury prevention curriculum. The Safety Squad program uses methods of delivery that engage the students to participate in learning risk reduction. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she created and utilized virtual learning resources to provide education to at-risk youths who misused fire. As the Youth Fire Prevention & Intervention Program Manager for VBFD, Xenakis continues to improve educational processes and develop solid working relationships with at-risk youth and their families. She has also expanded the Community Risk Reduction program offerings to residents in the City of Virginia Beach which includes providing a Child Passenger Safety Seat program and helps increase the number of Child Passenger Safety Technicians in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a certified instructor for Child Passenger Safety Technicians through Safe Kids Worldwide.