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Columbia College Graduates 12 Fire Technology Participants

 Press Release  

Contact: Office of the College President, Coni Chavez, (209) 588-5115
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2011

Columbia College’s Fire Academy will hold its graduation ceremony and presentation of Certification of Completion to 12 successful students of the Fire Technology Program. The event, which is open to the general public, will be held Monday, December 12, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Dogwood Forum.

 

The certificates will be awarded based on the student’s successful completion of the academic and manipulative training as mandated for a California Firefighter Level One. The students must still complete six months of full-time or one year of part-time field experience before applying to the state for Firefighter I Certification. “Some of the graduates have obtained paying positions at local fire departments since entering the academy” said Joe Doherty, college fire technology instructor. “Most will continue their studies at Columbia College to pursue associate degrees”.

 

In addition to the “routine” fire training classes, specialized training was delivered involving vehicle extrication class at Ahearns Towing, basic wildland firefighting classes, and indoor live fire suppression training which was conducted at the Modesto Junior College’s Fire Training Center.

 

A welcome message will be delivered by Dennis Gervin Ph.D., recently appointed President of Columbia College. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Faylan and Bruce Cannon, parents of recent academy graduate Jordan Reyes, for whom this academy class dedicated their efforts toward success. Closing thoughts will be presented by Fire Captain Matt O’Donnell, Ebbets Pass Fire Department.

F amily and friends will view a student produced audio visual presentation of their intensive 16 weeks of training. The rigorous training is designed to help serious candidates meet the requirements for demanding careers as professional firefighters, including over 300 hours of academic and manipulative training, according to Professor Doherty. The academy students have also completed over 100 hours of community service at local agencies as part of their community sensitivity training.  

The newly created Jordan Reyes Memorial Fire Academy Scholarship will be awarded to Steven Klith, while the Fire Academy Instructors Scholarship is being awarded to Jared Personius.

 

The Columbia College Fire Academy graduates and their hometowns:

 

Barreras, Lindsay                   Fremont
 Brockmire, Brandon               Sonora
 Burkin, Shelby                       Murphys
 Delgado, Steven                    Oakhurst
 Dixon, Ernie                          Columbia
 Harvey, Jeff                          Sunnyvale
 Hukkanen, Kyle                      Arnold
 Johnson, Kurt                        Manteca
 Klith, Steven                         West Point
 Munds, Noah                          San Luis Obispo
 Peasae, Kenneth                    Redwood City
 Personius, Jared                     Dana Point

 

For further information contact Joe Doherty, Fire Technology Program, at (209) 588-5244.

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Coni M. Chavez
 Executive Assistant to the President
 Columbia College
 11600 Columbia College Drive
 Sonora, CA 95370
 (209) 588-5115 • (209) 588-5161 fax
 chavezc@yosemite.edu