LEADING THE WAY FOR THE NEXT WAVE

When Miguel Bautista witnessed firefighters responding to a structure fire and watched how they operated, it jolted his 18-year-long career in public safety. Now, Bautista serves as the first Latinx division chief for the Scappoose Fire District in Oregon.

According to a 2020 report by the National Fire Protection Association, only two percent of all firefighters in the United States who get promoted to chief officer ranks are of Latinx heritage. Less than eight percent of firefighters in the U.S. are of Latinx or Hispanic heritage.

The oldest of five children, Bautista spent his childhood in Keizer, Oregon. Both of his parents immigrated from Mexico. Growing up, Bautista never noticed people who looked like him or coming from his background working in fields like law enforcement or firefighting. When he started his career nearly two decades ago, he said there weren’t as many Latinx firefighters. “Representation is important,” Bautista said. “I understand how important it is for people to see people that look like them in these positions. The lack of representation makes it feel like it is an unobtainable job. When I started this career, I never thought someone like me would be able to pursue a police or fire service career. I never saw anybody that looked like me, and no one ever told me, ‘Yes, you can do this, too.’” Bautista finished his bachelor’s degree during the Great Recession and was looking for a master’s degree program in public safety that would give him the option to work in multiple fields. EKU’s reputation and versatility of the safety, security and emergency management program caught his attention. He liked that the program focused on more than just his desired field in public safety; it also incorporated occupational safety, security and emergency management and offered the ability to specialize in certain areas. Because he was already working as a firefighter in Oregon, the program being 100 percent online provided an added bonus.

“I credit the program for me being able to secure employment when other people were being laid off during that time,” said Bautista.

Having previously worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning his education enabled him to work his way up the ranks as a firefighter to now division chief.

“I use everything I’ve learned from the program in my job,” he continued. “The school does well to build you up to be successful when you’re in your career. When I graduated from EKU, I knew my subject matter, and I knew it well.” Even now, with his many years of experience in the field, he uses the education and knowledge gained from EKU to solve some of the complex problems he encounters as a chief officer.

Some may feel that not being in a physical classroom is not as engaging. However, Bautista says his experience with the online program was the opposite.

“I would say the EKU instructors are very well-versed in their subject matter. They’re very helpful, but they also hold you accountable and encourage you to dig a little deeper when it comes to the quality of your coursework to make sure that you are actively engaging in discussions,” said Bautista.

“Through those discussions, even though they were virtual, I got to know other students as I went through the program. That was beneficial because rather than just taking a quiz and then moving on, it was more than that.”

Although his only time on EKU’s campus was for his graduation ceremony, Bautista takes pride in being an EKU alumnus. “When people are looking for online programs and universities that they’d like to pursue, EKU is one university that I strongly recommend to my friends, colleagues and anybody asking about what programs are worth their time and their money,” said Bautista.

Bautista looks forward to being the charge for more diversity in his field. He’d like to see more people of diverse backgrounds get the education they need so they can work in fire service jobs. By serving as division chief, he hopes to represent the Latinx community and enable others to see the potential in themselves.

“When I conduct myself in public and my profession, I have to remember that eyes are looking, and I’m setting an example and leading the way for the next wave,” Bautista said. n

“It’s important for us as alumni to create a culture of giving to something we believe in—something that impacts your life in profound ways. I love that on Giving Day I’m able to find scholarships or funds that directly help students and earmark exactly where my support goes.”

– Zach Lawrence, ’11 ’13 Every dollar given represents an investment in the lives of students. Your gift can help fund scholarships to make education more affordable, meet emergency needs through the Student Assistance Fund for Eastern (SAFE), provide important resources and opportunities through college greatest needs funds, and much more.

Kit Carson Commons

For 30 families, Kit Carson Commons is more than a housing development: it’s home. The ribboncutting ceremony for the Workforce Pathway at Kit Carson Commons on Oct. 26, 2022, introduced the community to the newest housing development on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus.

EKU partnered with Kentucky River Foothills to support veteran single-parent students and provide workforce development opportunities. The partnership, including other corporations and agencies, afforded the creation of the Workforce Pathway at Kit Carson Commons Scholar House located on EKU’s Richmond campus.

The Workforce Pathway addresses workforce development, education support and affordable housing for singleparent students within the Commonwealth. Residents of Kit Carson Commons Scholar House receive case management, workshops and access to various programs, including parenting skills, management of family resources, nutrition, work skills, problem solving and job search techniques.

The program prioritizes support for single-parent military service members and veterans enrolled in an approved post-secondary institution, including technical colleges and online programs. Additional priorities include single parents who are enrolled full time in a postsecondary institution.

Current residents at Kit Carson Commons include 16 EKU students. Tallia Cuttino, a senior aviation major, Army veteran and resident said, “This program is awesome and provides support for me and my daughter. It’s everything that you need academically, financially and emotionally. Whatever you can think of, they are here to help.”

Dominique Kellam (pictured left), a computer science major, along with her three children also live in Kit Carson Commons. She said, “I have a work placement here on campus that is in my career field, so that’s helping me build experience to enter the workforce. Now, I also have the opportunity to focus on my education without having to worry about paying outrageous prices for rent. It has given me peace of mind to be able to focus on my education.”

Kit Carson Commons has 30 housing units, consisting of two- and three-bedroom apartments, including three with fully handicapped-accessible living quarters and one equipped for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Nonresidential workforce training opportunities are available to unemployed and under-employed members of the community, focusing on industry, manufacturing, warehousing and shipping/distribution. n