June 7, 2010
Ninety-four high school seniors marked their graduation today from the Chicago Public Schools Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy program during a ceremony attended by top city, county, school, city college and public safety officials.
The graduation ceremony at Illinois Institute of Technology’s Hermann Hall celebrated the accomplishments of students who have dedicated two years of their high school careers to future professions in public safety.
The program, now completing its 11th year, is a first step for high school students who are considering becoming law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics or emergency medical technicians. The 94 students come from a total of 54 CPS, private and parochial high schools throughout Chicago. Speakers and scheduled notable attendees included Mayor Richard M. Daley; CPS Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman; Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, the evening’s keynote speaker; City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Cheryl Hyman; Chicago Police Supt. Jody P. Weis; and First Deputy Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Robert S. Hoff.
“Public service is an honorable calling and we salute these students for their interest and commitment to this program,” said Huberman, himself a former police officer. “Successfully completing the Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy program takes hard work and determination, and I congratulate all of these graduates and their families.”
The CPFTA program was developed jointly by the CPS Department of College and Career Preparation, the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Fire Department and City Colleges of Chicago. The program recruits and trains more than 200 public and non-public high school students every year. Among the program’s goals is to provide a pool of qualified applicants for the Chicago Police and Fire Departments.
Applicants for the program must be Chicago residents, have a 95 percent school attendance rate and a minimum grade point average of 2.0, have permission from parent or guardian, and submit two letters of recommendation. All applicants must also undergo a personal interview, complete a background check which includes fingerprinting, and have no record of felony arrests or convictions.
Years 1 and 2 of CPFTA are implemented at the Chicago Police and Fire Academies as an after-school program, conducted for about two hours a day three days per week from September through June. Years 3 and 4 are implemented at City College of Chicago. This part of the program consists of 65 credit hours leading to an associate’s degree in public safety. The curriculum includes courses in core academic disciplines, in public service and criminal justice and in the behavioral sciences.
“We encourage CPFTA graduates to enroll at one of the City Colleges of Chicago. Completing general studies and an associate’s degree at our community colleges is a smart and cost-effective way to pursue higher education, said Chancellor Cheryl Hyman. “We commend the class of 2010 graduates and welcome all of them to the City Colleges of Chicago next year.”
The program’s curriculum allows juniors and seniors who are Chicago residents to progress from high school to any one of the City Colleges of Chicago to complete a two-year associate in applied arts degree in public safety.
In addition to high school and college training, CPFTA students participate in a paid summer internship to promote better understanding of all aspects of careers in public safety.
“These students for the past two years have committed time after their regular school day to the important lessons of public safety,” Huberman said. “It is worth noting that CPFTA is not your average after-school program. It is not fun and games. It is physically rigorous and it is meant to toughen you mentally. Those who we are recognizing tonight have truly persevered and achieved.”
City Colleges of Chicago, District 508, includes Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S. Truman College, Harold Washington College and Wilbur Wright College. WYCC-TV Channel 20, a public broadcast station, is also part of the City Colleges system. For more information about City Colleges of Chicago, call (773) COLLEGE or visit www.ccc.edu.
A complete list of the Chicago Police and Fire Training Academy program graduates and their high schools follows.
|
Hakim |
Abdullah |
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences |
|
Steven |
Acevedo |
CICS - Northtown |
|
Oladipo |
Ajenifuja |
Global Vision Academy |
|
Alexander |
Alfaro |
Lane Tech High School |
|
Anthony |
Alvarez |
Phoenix Military Academy |
|
Edgar |
Barban |
Kennedy High School |
|
Santanna |
Benford |
Wells High School |
|
Marlon |
Berkhalter |
Harlan High School |
|
Lockreg |
Blackwell |
Julian High School |
|
Timothy |
Brooks |
DeVry High School |
|
Dominique |
Brown |
De La Salle Institute |
|
Orlando |
Brown |
CICS - Ralph Ellison |
|
Jade |
Bryant |
Longwood Academy |
|
Austin |
Burke |
Guerin Prep High School |
|
Michal |
Buron |
Kennedy High School |
|
Carl |
Castle |
Taft High School |
|
Alicia |
Clifton |
Simeon Academy |
|
Abelino |
Corral |
Jones College Prep |
|
Erickson |
Delacruz |
Prosser Career Academy |
|
Dominic |
Dimaggio |
Marist High School |
|
Desmon |
Dykes |
Von Steuben High School |
|
Nancy |
Escobedo |
Kelvyn Park High School |
|
Alvaro |
Flores |
Rauner College Prep |
|
Shaina |
Gonzalez |
Steinmetz High School |
|
Amber |
Gordon |
Harlan High School |
|
Alonzo |
Hall |
Dunbar High School |
|
Laquesha |
Hampton |
Hirsch High School |
|
Tyreace |
Hare |
Raby High School |
|
Cornelis |
Hayes |
CICS - Ralph Ellison |
|
Miguel |
Hernandez |
Kelly High School |
|
Ramon |
Hernandez, Jr. |
Richards Career Academy |
|
Tallor |
Houston |
Brooks College Prep |
|
Joshua |
Isom |
Washington High School |
|
Benjamin |
Jaffe |
Jones College Prep |
|
Luis |
Jaime |
Hancock High School |
|
Leroy |
Johnson |
Hyde Park Academy |
|
Ebony |
Knight |
Hirsch High School |
|
Jan |
Kulach |
Hubbard High School |
|
Rebecca |
Lagunas |
Kennedy High School |
|
Deonta |
Lewis |
Morgan Park High School |
|
Anthony |
Martinez |
Phoenix Military |
|
Alexis |
Martinez |
Lakeview High School |
|
Matthew |
Mata |
Taft High School |
|
Breah |
Mcbride |
Hyde Park Academy |
|
Ryan |
McDermott |
Taft High School |
|
Samuel |
Morales |
Richards Career Academy |
|
Anthony |
Morales |
Curie Career Academy |
|
Thomas |
Munley |
DeLaSalle Institute |
|
Joshua |
Navarro |
Prosser Career Academy |
|
Guadalupe |
Negrete |
Washington High School |
|
Alondra |
Nevarez |
Lane Tech High School |
|
Timothy |
Onofrei |
Lane Tech High School |
|
Melissa |
Pacheco |
Hancock High School |
|
Bruno |
Paixao |
Taft High School |
|
Ariel |
Pantig |
Taft High School |
|
Adriana |
Pedroza |
King College Prep |
|
Jiovonnie |
Poole |
Von Steuben High School |
|
Michael |
Pufpaf |
St. Patrick High School |
|
Dale |
Ramirez |
Morgan Park High School |
|
Shawn |
Reid |
Lane Tech High School |
|
Sean |
Rettmueller |
Amundsen High School |
|
Lanai |
Richardson |
Noble Street College Prep High School |
|
Michael |
Rivera |
Kelvyn Park High School |
|
Cristian |
Rivera |
Prosser Career Academy |
|
Joseph |
Rizzo |
St. Patrick High School |
|
Brenda |
Rodriguez |
Curie Career Academy |
|
Emily |
Rodriguez |
North Side College Prep High School |
|
Jeremy |
Rodriguez |
Lane Tech High School |
|
Mark |
Rodriguez |
Lane Tech High School |
|
Jonathan |
Rojas |
Taft High School |
|
Lilia |
Ruiz |
Wells High School |
|
David |
Rzany |
Schurz High School |
|
Andrew |
Sammarco |
St. Patrick High School |
|
Shamari |
Shorter |
Best Practice High School |
|
Anthony |
Sis |
Lane Tech High School |
|
Victor |
Smith |
Rickover Navel Academy |
|
Thomas |
Sullivan IV |
Marist High School |
|
Tierah |
Tate |
Julian High School |
|
Cordarius |
Taylor |
Kenwood Academy |
|
Remona |
Tookes |
Harlan High School |
|
Mark |
Vanek |
Mount Carmel High School |
|
Charlie |
Villada |
Richards Career Academy |
|
Agustin |
Villanueva |
Infinity High School |
|
Denise |
Villegas |
Prosser Career Academy |
|
Sean |
Ward |
Lane Tech High School |
|
Nikko |
Warr |
Bowen High School |
|
Dyandrea |
Wells |
Best Practice High School |
|
Albert |
Williams |
Longwood Academy |
|
Krystal |
Wilson |
DuSable High School |
|
Ariel |
Wilson |
Lincoln Park High School |
|
Lakiwana |
Woods |
Hope College Prep |
|
Ashley |
Worden |
Taft High School |
|
Shelicia |
Young |
Dunbar High School |
|
Cynthia |
Zavala |
Steinmetz High School |
About CPS
Chicago Public Schools serves 417,855 students in 675 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.