Howell Graduates First Class of Firefighter CadetsHowell Graduates First Class of Firefighter Cadets

6/4/14 - More than two dozen cadets graduated Monday from the Howell Schools Fire Academy. In addition to the cadets’ family and friends, the ceremony was also attended by command officers and firefighters from various local fire agencies who had worked with the cadets over the course of the school year. Each of the students received a certificate of completion indicating that they the required knowledge and skills to pass the State of Michigan Firefighters certification exam. Among the speakers at Monday’s graduation was Joe Grutza, a manager with the Michigan Bureau of Fire Services Firefighter Training Division. Grutza praised district officials for creating and supporting the program, including Howell Superintendent Ron Wilson, School Board President Mike Witt, who is also a Battalion Chief with the St. Clair Shores Fire Department, and the course instructor, Lt. Tom Kiurski. He also noted that Howell High School is the first high school in the state to successfully implement this type of program. Pictured left to right are Kiurski, Witt, Grutza and Brighton Fire Chief Mike O'Brian. (JK)