Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
South Texas College recently welcomed its first Fire Academy cohort in Starr County – expanding the opportunity to reach more students and protect communities across the Rio Grande Valley.
In a ceremony attended by STC leadership, trustees, faculty, staff and local fire departments, 13 Fire Academy cadets were introduced to the Starr County community and STC campus.
“We are the largest provider of higher education in Hidalgo and Starr Counties, and expanding these opportunities, like this new fire academy in Starr County, across our system, aligns with our continued strategy of creating innovative programming and making education accessible to all,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. “When we create programs, everything is relative to industry demand and to industry and student demand. These programs are designed to give students the skills and credentials they need to grow within their careers and serve their communities.”
The 16-week Fire Academy will provide each student with training that will build their physical and psychological strengths with agility tests, lectures, quizzes, exams and hands-on training with firefighting gear, equipment and tools.
STC’s Fire Academy cadets also train using the program’s traveling car and trailer and two-story structure at the college’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence to learn proper processes and procedures in extinguishing fires.
Upon successful completion of the academy, students earn the opportunity to sit for the Texas Commission on Fire Protection firefighter license examination.
“In the spring of 2011, I was asked to lead STC’s Fire Science Program. We had no fire gear, fire equipment; all we had was a portable building and a dream. Now 15 years later, with 35 Fire Academy cohorts under our belt, we have a state-of-the-art training field, brick and mortar campus and exponential growth,” said STC Fire Science Program Coordinator Victor Fonseca. “To have our first class here in Starr County, shows the passion and determination our public safety division has for this program. It’s a proud moment. We’re excited to test the minds, emotions and strengths of our cadets. Here at STC, we’re going to give them all the help they need to accomplish this goal.”
Jocelyn Velasquez is one of those students who make up STC’s first Fire Academy cohort in Starr County. She said she has always wanted a career as a first responder.
“Since I was little, I’ve always had the heart for helping others. So, when this program opened in Starr County, I knew this was my chance to do what I’ve always wanted to do – help people and save lives,” said the 18-year-old Zapata native. “I look forward to training close to home for a career that will change my life and those I serve.”
STC Trustee and President of Starr County Industrial Foundation Rose Benavidez said it is students like Velasquez that give her hope for the future.
“The work that we’re doing here at STC for this community is yielding the results we’ve always hoped for – innovative programming and student success,” she said. “Every time I’m at the STC Starr County campus, I’m reminded how this used to be a field and look at what we’ve grown. Now instead of growing fruits and vegetables we’re growing doctors, lawyers, teachers and professionals of every kind…even our own heroes. We welcome our first Fire Academy cadets in Starr County. They are heroes that when everyone is running away, they’re running in. Their work is not easy, but we’re helping them design their futures here in Starr County.”
For more information on STC’s Fire Academy in Pharr and Starr County, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/fire-science/academy.html.
Information source: STC
