New PHSC Fire Academy Honors Inaugural Graduates In Dade City

DADE CITY, FL – Pasco-Hernando State College finished welcoming back its new Fire Academy with its first graduating class since the program’s return.

The PHSC Fire Academy held a graduation ceremony recognizing 11 graduates with fire fighter certificates on Friday, Dec. 9 at the East Campus in Dade City.

“We are honored to congratulate the cadets who graduated from this program,” said Lisa Richardson, Ed. D., East Campus provost.

While the college offered a similar program years ago, the field of fire science has advanced significantly, Richardson said.

“The 2016 PHSC cadet class No. 30 is recognized as the inaugural class of PHSC’s new Fire Academy,” she said.

Launched in August 2016, the Fire Academy feature 11 graduates who completed two eight-week Fire Fighter courses, along with one cadet who completed a volunteer fire fighter certificate.

Several cadets received recognition during the ceremony:

• Thomas D’Ascanio was named class leader
• Dalton Flowers was selected as instructors’ choice for outstanding student
• Shawn Roper received the academic honors award
• Austin Ruzycki was chosen by classmates for the espirt de corps award.

“Fire Science has evolved significantly in the past few decades,” said Bill Watson, PHSC instructor/coordinator of fire science technology.

PHSC’s new fire academy includes a minimum of 398 intensive training hours, including real-world field experience.

“All cadets must participate in several live fire-burning scenarios including a building fire (burn building), a vehicle fire and a liquefied propane gas fire,” Watson said.

For more information about the new PHSC Fire Academy, visit www.phsc.edu/fire.

Image courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State Collage. Pictured are: Front row left to right: Austin Ruzycki, Thomas D'Ascanio, John Barranco, Anthony Schifini, Dalton Flowers; back row left to right: Kyle Forchion, Kevin Fisher, Shawn Roper, Pantelis Krouskos, and Phillip Burrill. Not pictured: Barry Lovett and graduating with his volunteer firefighter certificate was Kobie Holmes.