This morning Engine 62-1 and a small contingent of members traveled down to Chester County Public Safety Training Campus in South Coatesville to support and celebrate two of our members that were graduating from the Octorara Homeland Security & Protective Services Academy. Ridge Firefighters Andrew Worobetz and Evan Colegrove graduated the academy today as they wrap up their Senior Year of high school. Today's events began with a signing ceremony where each graduate signed a certificate of achievement along with a representative of their home fire company, lead instructor and principal of the academy. The signing ceremony was followed by light refreshments and a procession of the graduates in their company apparatus down to the Tactical Village where an awards ceremony and formal graduation were held with friends and family in attendance.

Andrew and Evan complete the Firefighting segment of the course during their senior year of high school with over 50 different certifications along with their PA Essentials of Firefighting Certification allowing them to become interior certified firefighters. As we mentioned a few weeks back the Octorara Homeland Security & Protective Services Academy is available to all Chester County High School Students and is held during the school day with a morning and afternoon session in South Coatesville at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus. This program provides a great opportunity for High School students to receive training and certifications in many of the different disciplines of Emergency Services while counting towards their high school graduation and potential college credits.

The members would like to congratulate Evan and Andrew on their completion of the Academy as they look towards their high school graduation from Owen J. Roberts coming up in June. Along with a congratulations to all the graduates from the academy and their respective fire companies.