On Thursday, December 15, the first annual Newport News Fire Department Youth Fire Academy students graduated from the basic fire academy. This outstanding program is the result of positive and collaborative work conducted by the Newport News Fire Department and the Newport News Public School System. The School Division has established a very dynamic program to assist in preparing students for their future careers after they graduate from high school. In the spring of 2016, the fire department staff worked with Principal Shameka Gerald and her staff at Heritage High School to establish the Youth Fire Academy curriculum and program. The goal of this program is to provide an opportunity for students in the Newport News Public Schools system to apply and to be hired in the Newport News Fire Department after graduation.

The students that attended this program received instruction on fire and emergency medical services to include being certified in CPR and Portable Fire Extinguishers. The graduating class will participate in the ride along program next semester receiving additional training to help prepare them for a career in the fire service. These students are being recognized in a more formal way at the Newport News Fire Department Annual Awards Ceremony in 2017.