Fox Valley Technical College was awarded a $15,000 grant to help fund a program for high school students interested in pursuing a fire service career, June 20, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Fox Valley Technical College was awarded a grant Thursday that will help fund a program for high school students interested in pursuing a fire service career.
FVTC is one of four recent winners of a Youth Firefighter Training grant from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Secretary-designee Dan Hereth presented FVTC the ceremonial check worth $15,405.
The grant funds will help establish a High School Fire program, which will allow FVTC to offer a Firefighting Principals course to students at seven local high schools. Any student interested in firefighting, either as a volunteer or a full-time career, is welcome to complete the program.
“Our volunteer fire departments play a big role in public safety, and there is a need out there to have people be part of their volunteer fire department and really serve our community,” said FVTC Dean of Public Safety John Sorenson, “It’s a great opportunity for students to be part of that profession.”
This four-credit course will teach fire behavior and fire control techniques at FVTC’s Public Safety Training Center. The program will count for college credit and meet all requirements of Firefighter I certification in Wisconsin.
“Getting our students engaged in this as soon as 18 so that they can learn the skills to become a volunteer firefighter and give back to their community extends, in many ways, the life of that volunteer firefighter,” Hereth said. “We want to set that foundation early with some of our high school students so they’re prepared to give back.”
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