Cadets Graduate from Hancock's Fire & EMS Academies

The graduates were honored during two ceremonies at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC) in Lompoc.  

"These cadets represent the next generation of first responders,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “They are highly trained and prepared to serve their communities.”  

A total of 29 cadets graduated from the fire academy, marking the end of a rigorous 18-week program consisting of 624 hours of classroom and field instruction. The ceremony was also an acknowledgment that the cadets had not only completed that training but met and exceeded the state and national certification training standards for Firefighter I Certification.  

"The skills and lessons we learned are what is going to bring us home to the people we love,” said academy class president Bailey Higgins.  

Before the ceremony, the cadets gave a live demonstration of the skills they learned at the academy, which included running fire hoses, dousing burning cars and extricating “victims” from vehicle wrecks outside the PSTC’s burn tower.  

A total of 35 cadets graduated from the college’s EMS program. During their time at the academy, the cadets learned critical skills such as patient handling and moving, emergency vehicle driving, and more. Much of the training was hands-on and utilized the state-of-the-art equipment and technology available at the PSTC. In addition to traditional classroom learning environments, the cadets also trained in one of the only community college EMS simulation labs in the state.  

Hancock’s high-tech lab includes simulation mannequins and an ambulance simulator that allows students to experience and practice the treatment of a patient while in a moving vehicle.  

"We all put in the work necessary to get here today,” said academy valedictorian Brian Martinez Perez. “I am proud of everyone. Together we persevered and made this journey a lifelong memory.” 

The ceremonies kicked off a series of graduations from Hancock’s public safety programs. The college will hold ceremonies for its Law Enforcement Academy on June 5, and its CORE Custody Academy on May 23. Hancock will also celebrate the very first graduating class from its new Paramedic Academy on June 5. 

To learn more about Hancock’s public safety programs, visit https://www.hancockcollege.edu/pstc.