RHC Fire Academy Graduation Class 99!
Rio Hondo College Fire Academy Class 99 graduated Friday, Dec. 9th, at the RHC Public Safety Training Center and Regional Fire Academy in Santa Fe Springs.
The 43 cadets celebrated amongst family, friends, professors, and administrators.
Also in attendance were RHC Board of Trustees Kristal Orozco, area 4, and Rosaelva Lomeli, Area 3.
The celebration with filled with inspirational messages for the graduates.
“Your commitment to becoming a firefighter and taking on the responsibility as a protector of society brings great joy and pride to your families, to your friends, to Rio Hondo and its entire com -
munity,” said Dr. Don Miller, Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA).
The plaque that will be displayed at the fire academy in honor of Class 99 was presented by Cadet Vice President Arturo Fernandez Jr and Treasurer Samuel Chavez.
Cadet President, Victor Garibay, credited the Cadre for their foundation of fire service knowledge. He spoke of overcoming the challenges
over the intense 17 weeks in the academy, remembering the first day and how they ran around like chickens without a head.
He added, “despite how undesirable the conditions or tasks may have been, at the end of the day, we pushed each other, got through it together, and even managed to share some laughs along the way.”
“Many of us are going our
separate ways in life. Some of us may never see or speak to each other again, but no matter what happens from this day forward, we will always have the memories that Class 99 cherished.” Garibay said, “but it is up to us what career we build upon it.”
Class 99 was sponsored by the list of sponsors listed. The cadets will carry on to pursue their careers as firefighters.
Photographed by Gabriel Angulo El Paisano Media
