[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 169 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE GRADUATES OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE 
               DEPARTMENT HIGH SCHOOL FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2017

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2017 
graduating class of the Fairfax County High School Firefighter Program. 
Last year, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in partnership 
with Fairfax County Public Schools created its High School Firefighter 
Program to provide training to students who are considering a career as 
a firefighter.
  Students who participate in this program attend courses taught by 
qualified instructors at the Fairfax County Fire Academy. In fact, they 
receive some of the same training as new professional and volunteer 
firefighters. The course is grueling but upon successful completion, 
the students will receive six college credits. Should these students 
decide to apply to the Fairfax County Fire Academy, successful 
completion of this program will make them very competitive candidates 
and in fact, a few slots at the Academy are reserved specifically for 
the top student graduates.
  This year, thirteen seniors are graduating as the inaugural class of 
the High School Firefighter Program. It is my honor to include in the 
Record the names of the following graduates:
  Crisol Alvis Rodriguez, Nicholas Arko, Anna Fuentes, Joshua Hone, 
Alex Hurd, Henry Jimenez-Reyes, Nathan Leite, Gillian Mudge, Michael 
Murn, Jarod Rambo, Ben Rothwell, Richard Verrier, Leah Walters.
  Mr. Speaker, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is one of 
the best fire departments in the country and in the world. I commend 
the department as well as the public school system for partnering in 
the creation of this program. I also applaud these young people for 
their desire to learn more about the department and for their interest 
in protecting our community. Northern Virginia is fortunate to have 
such dedicated young citizens. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating these students on their successful completion of this 
program and in wishing them great future success.

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