Twenty cadets from the Yuba College Fire Fighter 1 Academy #9 were honored for their completion of the fifteen-week academy with a graduation ceremony May 4.
The ceremony began with the posting of colors by the Beale AFB Honor Guard and the playing of the national anthem. Bagpipe player Mike Carr then played the song “America” as the cadets marched in formation to the front of the room. Followed was an introduction by Jeff Julian, who is an Coordinator of the Fire Academy and a Yuba City Fire Department Captain, and a welcome speech by Gary Schoessler, Director of the Yuba College Public Safety Center. In his speech Schoessler credited the cadets for their hard work while attending the academy. “They’ve done an outstanding job. They’ve been through a lot,” said Schoessler.
After an Invocation by Pastor Lou Binninger and a speech from the Chief Chuck Vanevenhoven of the Sutter County Fire Department, cadets Mathew Meyer and Krystal Solorzano performed a speech presentation on class reflections.
While giving the presentation, Meyer and Solorzano jokingly told stories about the hard work they and the other cadets had to endure while attending the fire academy. In a more serious tone they stated that the graduation cadets all agree on one theme for the academy-dedication. “I am proud to be part of a group of people like this,” Meyer said.
Four cadets were then presented with awards. Christina Floresca, Ryan Hamre and Colby Hart were given Battalion Chief Recognition for serving as chiefs for an equal amount of time during the fifteen-week academy.
Hamre also received the Academy Achievement Award for his outstanding accumulative score of 97.63 percent on tests given throughout the course, and the Athletic Award for his physical ability performances in which he set a new school record with a perfect score on the physical ability tests.
The final award, the Esprit de Corps Award, was given to Matthew Meyer for his uplifting spirit while attending the academy.
After the awards presentation, cheers filled the room as the twenty cadets received their certificates of completion. The presentation was followed by a benediction by Pastor Benninger and a closing speech by Jeff Julian who said that he was proud of the cadets and wished them well in the future. “We love them, but we like to see them leave,” Julian said.
The following are the names of the graduating cadets listed by company:
Company #1Michael MartinezJames SmithMatthew MeyerRyan HamreColby Hart
Company #2Krystal SolorzanoChristina FlorescaBrandon YurekEric HarrisonPaul Walston
Company #3Andre MontanoTiffany TracyDerek DeanMichael BasicTravis Dewater
Company #4Michaela GaspersonMichael LablueQuadir ReedRyan Stampe Jonathan Crull
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