Student Success
Fire Students Learn Skills to Success
RALEIGH, N.C. (January 20, 2023) – Students training to become firefighters in the Wake County Fire Academy, a partnership between Wake Tech and Wake County, learned a different set of skills today.
More than 30 students attended the Fire Academy Spring Kick-Off to Success conference at Wake Tech's Public Safety Education Campus. They learned techniques to help improve classroom success, including effective note-taking and tips for minimizing stress during exams. The sessions were taught by Wake Tech faculty and staff.
Wake Tech Associate Professor of Academic Success Deanna Blatchford and Student Success Coach William Nunnally helped organize the event.
Nunnally meets with the Fire Academy students once a week and offers them support on a variety of topics, from academics to financial aid.
"This is an amazing group of students who are committed to becoming firefighters," said Nunnally. "We want to arm them with the tools they need to prepare for and pass their exams."
Dr. Jamie Wicker, provost and chief campus officer for Public Safety Education and Training at Wake Tech, agrees.
"Our students receive the very best training they need to become first responders," she said. "We offer hands-on training with equipment and classroom instruction, and we want them to be successful at both."
The students are attending the 38-week Fire Academy class, which began in October. It includes certifications in firefighting, hazardous materials, incident command system and rapid intervention. The Fire Academy also offers the EMT basic certification course.
Cadets who finish the program will graduate in June. All of the students are currently employed with fire departments in Wake County.
Wake Tech trains fire and rescue personnel throughout Wake and surrounding counties. The Fire Services program is designed to provide full-time and volunteer fire departments with the opportunity to gain knowledge, practical skills and certification in modern firefighting, rescue, officer development and fire department management. A range of specialty classes, based on both departmental needs and new training standards, is offered throughout the year.
