Rotary Club hears success of Gonzales Fire Academy

At the Gonzales Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 14, the guests included Gonzales Fire Chief Keith Schmidt, Gonzales ISD CTE coordinator Jennifer Ervin and former Councilman Dan Blakemore, all there to talk about the challenges and successes of the Gonzales High School Fire Academy.

The Gonzales City Council, Fire Chief Keith Schmidt and Texas A&M agreed to put together a Fire Academy for high school students starting their freshman year. After a year of teaching every day, it was decided to make the four-year program a two-year program for juniors and seniors.

The first graduating class will have five students, including Kael Lopez, who said “he hopes to be a fireman, the first in his family.” He works out with members of the Gonzales Fire Department, as well as getting lots of physical training as a football player for Gonzales High School. 

Guiding the students for her second year is CTE coordinator extraordinaire, Jennifer Ervin, who has worked very hard along with Schmidt in obtaining gear and other items to teach the students with. It has been a learning experience all around.

Rotary is always looking for new members and welcome all to attend, every Tuesday on the third floor of the Randle-Rather Building, 427 St George St., Gonzales.