Honoring a Lifelong Commitment to Emergency Medical Service and Education
The J.J. Kukawka Scholarship was established by Stanley and Nancy Kukawka to honor their son, Jeffrey John “J.J.” Kukawka. His life and career reflect their family’s enduring values of faith, integrity, and service to others. The scholarship supports students in UCLA’s Paramedic Program who demonstrate exceptional professionalism, leadership, and dedication to community through service and education.
A proud UCLA alumnus, J.J. Kukawka has devoted four decades to the field of Emergency Medical Services as an EMT, Firefighter/Paramedic, Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy/Airmedic, and respected Instructor. He began his EMS journey while at UCLA as a student. He was one of the handful of students who initiated the Station Officer program for the UCLA Department of Community Safety and Police Department. These Station Officers were also EMTs that ran 911 calls on campus and the surrounding area. J.J. considered it an honor to be the first supervisor of the Station Officer program. He then went to the UCLA/Daniel Freeman Paramedic Program. Ultimately, he earned his paramedic license and completed his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at UCLA.
Throughout his career, J.J. has been known for his professionalism, composure in high-pressure situations, and gift for teaching others. Among his teaching assignments, he served as Lead EMT Instructor/Lecturer for the Los Angeles County Regional Occupational Program in multiple districts. He also served as the Lead Instructor/Lecturer for the California Institute of Technology, Caltech. Later he served as a consultant, tutor, and mentor to countless EMT and Paramedic students across Southern California. His commitment to training the next generation of first responders continues to strengthen the profession he loves.
About Stanley and Nancy Kukawka
Stanley and Nancy Kukawka, who established this scholarship in honor of their son, shared a lifelong commitment to family, faith, and service. Married for 70 years, they built a life grounded in compassion, learning, and helping others. Stan built a successful career in engineering and management before dedicating his expertise to consulting and authorship, while Nancy, a trained nurse, devoted herself to family, volunteerism, and her church community.
Their generosity ensures that the values they lived by and that J.J. carries forward through his work in emergency medicine will continue to inspire and support future students at UCLA.
Invitation to Apply
Students enrolled in UCLA’s Paramedic Education Program who demonstrate exceptional academic performance, leadership, and dedication to community service are invited to apply for the J.J. Kukawka Scholarship. Application information will be sent to eligible students after acceptance into the Paramedic program.