62.3 Spartan Echo

Page 1

10.03.14

Vol. 62, I ssue 3

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Stories Inside

A full calendar of homecoming activities for the week. ...Page 4-5

Learn about Mr. and Miss Norfolk State University. ...Page 10

NSU alumna makes history with the VBFD Jason Gill

Norfolk State University (NSU) alumna Krystal Jacobs, a Virginia Beach native and Kellam High School graduate, is the latest Spartan to make history by becoming the first African-American female to be sworn in as a member of the Virginia Beach Fire Department on Aug. 25. Jacobs’ journey began when she received her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Old Dominion University (ODU) in 2004. She then enrolled in graduate school at NSU and earned her master’s degree in media and communications with an emphasis on media production in 2008. For Jacobs, becoming a fulltime firefighter wasn’t originally a part of her plan. Using the education she received at both NSU and ODU, she went to work for NewsChannel 3 in 2008 as a full-time news editor where she held the position for five years. She was in charge of edit-

ing the 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. news programs. In 2008, while at NewsChannel 3, Jacobs began working part-time for the Virginia Beach Fire Department in their Multimedia Shop. It was that experience that sparked her interest in becoming a firefighter. “It was the first time I had been exposed to the fire department. Last year [2013] was when I decided to go ahead and apply for the academy,” Jacobs said. “I was actually able to see that the majority of their job is EMS related and helping people. I enjoy helping people and I told myself I could do that. It’s definitely a tough profession to get into and you have to have a passion for helping people, which I do. It was just a good fit.” As expected, Jacobs endured many challenges along the way. There are far more male than female firefighters and the toll that it takes on a person, both physically and

mentally, can prove to be too much for many. “You definitely have to be in shape; they literally whipped us into shape,” Jacobs said. “Just having physical strength is a big portion

of the job. It’s a little tougher for females. Naturally, we don’t have as much upper body strength as males, so I had to work on that. At the Continued on Page 2

Krystal Jacobs was sworn into the Virginia Beach Fire Department on Aug. 25. Photo by Rayford P. Smith

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