By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

The Exchange Club of Chandler annually honors one firefighter and one Chandler Police officer for their community efforts.

The 2025 honorees, as recognized at an Oct. 13 Chandler City Council meeting, are Chandler Police officer Evan Sprague and Chandler Fire Capt. Scott Onyett.

Chandler City Council member O.D. Harris and Mayor Kevin Hartke posed for photos with the two honorees, their plaques and their families and Exchange Club members at the meeting.

Sprague, according to the club is known for having accomplished several specific trainings in a relatively short time with the department and has been complimented for a “calm and professional manner in handling the most trying of situations.”

Capt. Onyett was praised by the club for being named Paramedic of the Year and Firefighter of the Year in successive years by his superiors. He is known for “making solid spontaneous decisions amid ongoing changing operational demands” and advocating for staffing, equipment and other items as a union vice-president.

The club was chartered in 2013, according to chandlerexchangeclub.org.

The original club included local businessmen and women, veterans, and retirees, who saw an opportunity to network and to find ways to support their community, the website states.

The club devotes its efforts to many community service projects every year, continuously focus its efforts on Americanism (helping local veterans organizations), child abuse prevention, community service, and youth programs.

Jason W. Brooks can be reached at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as those meet our  Civility Guidelines.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.