Edison International has awarded the College of the Canyons fire technology program a $25,000 grant in support of the college’s development of present and future fire personnel.

The grant was offered to College of the Canyons, Santa Ana College, Victor Valley College, Crafton Hills College and Mt. San Antonio College with these five California Community Colleges selected to pilot the program because of their successful fire technology programs and their service to a wide demographic of students. The grant is new this year to Edison International’s philanthropic efforts.

“Edison’s generous contribution to our fire technology program creates increased opportunities for those who want to pursue a career in fire service,” said Keith Kawamoto, COC fire technology department chair.
“These funds also enable us to purchase the valuable equipment that lend to interactive learning experiences. Structural firefighter coats, helmets, axes and more are not cheap, but they afford our students a better glimpse into fire service.”

In addition to supporting the college’s fire technology department, the grant has benefited 10 COC students who were awarded $1,000 scholarships for tuition, books and school related fees. Qualifying students had to have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher and be enrolled in the college’s fire technology program. Recipients also responded to four essay questions about their fire service career goals.

From College of the Canyons, the following students were chosen to receive scholarships for the fall 2018 semester: Kiera Coblentz, Joseph Cortez, Danielle Desch, Trina Duncan, Lyndsee Little, Christian Meza, Hunter Mills, Jesus Perez, Jonathan Scarano, and Jack Tuszynski. Ten more students will be chosen for the spring 2019 semester.

California’s devastating wildfires necessitate ample fire department staffing. For this reason, College of the Canyons offers fire technology within the School of Mathematics, Sciences & Health Professions. This program offers certificate/degree opportunities for both pre-service individuals and in-service professionals who seek career advancement. COC fire technology courses align with the uniform curriculum laid down by California Community Colleges.

For more information about the COC fire technology program, please visit the program’s webpage.