KINGSTON — Kyle Cetnarowski, 25, of Hansville and Kyle Murray, 21, of Kingston were among eight volunteer trainees to graduate from firefighter recruit academy Nov. 13 at North Kitsap Fire & Rescue’s Paul T. Nichol headquarters fire station.

The other graduates are Sam Carson, 22, of Port Orchard; Jacob Johnson, 19, of Poulsbo; Clinton Gelderman, 18, of Poulsbo; Jason Snodgrass, 21, of Poulsbo; Jamal Stoudermire, 29, of Port Orchard; and Joe Williamson, 21, of Seattle.

They are the latest to join NKF&R’s well-respected volunteer-intern program.  Once qualified to do so, volunteer-interns serve alongside the department’s paid personnel, augmenting staffing levels.  In exchange, volunteer-interns receive the training, certifications and experience necessary to more effectively compete for paid positions in emergency services.

More than 200 have gone through the program since its inception in 1988, and are serving in fire departments across the state and beyond.   Several of the graduates were honored with special awards. Snodgrass was named the academy’s valedictorian for tallying the highest test scores.  Carson, Cetnarowski, Murray and Snodgrass were named “Bulldogs.” Recipients of this award, selected by the academy’s instructors, are chosen for their tenacity, leadership, commitment to perfection and ability to overcome adversity.  Stoudermire was selected by his fellow recruits as most inspirational for his ability to motivate and support other team members.  Following the brief ceremonies, guests were treated to a live firefighting skills demonstration presented by the new recruits and their instructors.

The ceremony concludes the district’s 2011 volunteer-intern firefighting academy, which started on Sept. 1.  
Since then, the candidates have spent at least 10 hours a day for four days a week learning the fundamentals through lectures, presentations, reading, drillground exercises and live fire training.

This group of graduates join their shifts in mid-November.