More than 100 local high school students had an opportunity to expand their knowledge about a career in public service this month during a Fire Safety/First Responders Career Day at Moraine Valley Community College.
Coordinated and hosted by Andrew Hufnagl, Moraine Valley Fire Science Program coordinator and instructor, along with Suzanne Kendryna, assistant director at Moraine Area Career System (MACS), the event hosted students from 10 local high schools: Argo Community, Alan B. Shepard, Harold L. Richards, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Reavis, Oak Lawn Community, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Carl Sandburg, Victor J. Andrew, and Evergreen Park Community.
Participants in the Fire Safety/First Responders Career Day, hosted during National Fire Prevention Week in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, had an opportunity to rotate through stations focused on a variety of operations and techniques used in the industry. Students also experienced a side-by-side sprinkler burn room that demonstrated the importance of smoke detectors and sprinkler systems.
“It gives me great satisfaction to host these events because I get to see people’s eyes open up and their understanding shift of what it is exactly that fire departments do and just how physically demanding and taxing this career is,” Hufnagl said. “Seeing the transformation in the students and knowing their understanding has evolved as to what’s involved and just how much first responders are responsible for knowing, is really fun for me.”
Each session during the career day was conducted by the college’s Fire Academy class, aligning with the academy’s coursework on public education, engaging with an audience and working with the community. “Our academy students oversee each of the different hands-on experiences and the instructors oversee them to make sure they’re doing a good job, and nothing is unsafe,” Hufnagl shared.
He said exit surveys revealed most students found it to be a very good or excellent event, and more than half of the students were interested in learning more about Emergency Medical Technician and firefighter careers. Hufnagl shared that while many participants already were interested in a public service career, the event helped to solidify their decisions.
MACS partners with Moraine Valley to offer career awareness events for local high schools to help students explore various career pathways and make informed decisions about their future.
“These events provide students with exposure to different industries, professions and educational opportunities available at the college that they may not otherwise have been aware of,” Kendryna said. “By participating in these events, students gain a better understanding of the skills and qualifications needed for specific careers, which hopefully helps guide their academic choices while still in high school and after they graduate.”
Kendryna shared that she was pleased that students thought highly of the Fire Safety/First Responder event.
“I was especially excited that so many students expressed interest in participating in a Fire Science dual enrollment cohort while still in high school,” she said. “Working with high school students and connecting them to career experiences is deeply rewarding and we are grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Moraine Valley to offer these opportunities for our high school students.”
For news media inquiries, contact Madisson Younglove, Moraine Valley assistant director of Communications, at (708) 974-5281 or younglovem2@morainevalley.edu.
