SANFORD - Carolina Community College's Fire Academy graduation was held on Thursday, March 10, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center.

Chief Robert Howard, CCCC Fire Academy Coordinator, and Chief Richard Allred, CCCC Fire Rescue Coordinator, both participated in the program.

The Fire Academy cadets are: Terry Beans of Lillington, Alex Gilligan of Sanford, Jackson Lee of Fuquay-Varina, Veronica Nunez Sanchez of Sanford, De'Anthonie Taylor of Sanford, and Andrew Wheeler of Pittsboro.

Veronica Nunez Sanchez received the Captain's Award.

The Academy is a rigorous and challenging program of more than 800 hours of study and practice in fire and rescue scenarios and practicals. The cadets completed rigorous and intensive training in fire fighting, safety and survival, technical rescue, vehicle rescue, emergency vehicle driving, and hazardous materials response at the College's Emergency Services Training Center.

CCCC began offering fire fighter 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.