SANFORD - Carolina Community College's Fire Academy graduation was held on Friday, March 3, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center.

Chief Robert Howard, CCCC Fire Academy Coordinator, and Captain Sarah Tart, CCCC Fire and Rescue Coordinator, both participated in the program.

The Fire Academy cadets, with their affiliated agencies, are: Keonte Alston of Sanford, William Antlitz of Sanford - Lemon Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Nathaniel Campbell of Broadway - Cape Fear Rural Fire Department, Carla Anne George of Moncure - Moncure Fire Department, Emily Gibson of Sanford - Benhaven Emergency Services, Gavin Lewis of Moncure - Moncure Fire Department, Braden Phillips of Bear Creek - Goldston Rural Fire Department, Seth Rouhier of Sanford - Tramway Rural Fire Department, Darius White of Sanford - Carolina Trace Fire Department, and Kalvin Wicklin of Fayetteville - Spout Springs Emergency Services.

Carla Ann George received the Captain Wilbert "Tramp" Dunn Award.

The Academy is a rigorous and challenging program of more than 1,000 hours of study and practice in fire and rescue scenarios and practicals. The cadets completed rigorous and intensive training in firefighting, safety and survival, technical rescue, vehicle rescue, emergency vehicle driving, hazardous materials response, and Emergency Medical Technician training at the College's Emergency Services Training Center.

CCCC began offering firefighter training classes in 1964. In 2001, the Emergency Services Training Center was established at the former Sanford/Lee County Airport site in Sanford, providing greatly expanded facilities for training.

The Fire Academy opened in January 2010.

For information on CCCC's Fire Academy, contact the CCCC Fire and Rescue Coordinator at 919-777-7778.

For more information on Central Carolina Community College - which is dedicated to providing pathways to achievable dreams, visit www.cccc.edu.