NJCU Fire Science Seniors Hrapsky and Soccodato Along with Alum Hamburger all Receive Firefighter Appointments

Fire science senior Stephen Hrapsky was offered a firefighter position with the Arlington County Fire Department in Virginia this past May. Stephen was one of twenty one recruits chosen from a pool of 1,500 applicants. After accepting the position he began his firefighter training at the Arlington County Fire Academy on July 5^th and will graduate in December. Hrapsky attributes his being hired in part due to his college education at NJCU. He explained that, “The department was looking for individuals who recognized the importance of higher education. The NJCU fire science program helped me to become more comfortable and confident with my knowledge of the fire service, which in turn, helped me to clearly answer several scenario-based questions during the interview process. Interesting, everyone in my recruit school has some form of higher education.”

With the department running about 45,000 calls a year, Hrapsky will be quite busy once he is on the line. The Arlington County Fire Department has approximately 320 uniformed personnel, with 10 fire stations that cover 26 square miles. Besides covering Arlington County and being “first-due” at the Pentagon, the department runs mutual aid into Washington D.C., Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria.

When asked about what helped to prepare him for this position, Stephen stated, “One of the most significant benefits was Prof. Malley’s Emergency Personnel Fitness class that I took in my in sophomore year. The physical training (PT) that we do every morning in the fire academy is extremely intense. Prof. Malley helped me prepare for this training through his class .” As quoted from Hrapsky to his fellow students; “Don’t stop training! The PT can be really rough and the job can be even tougher. Running is crucial; don’t think you can skate by, by just hitting the weights and skipping the runs. The academy is fast paced, you learn something new one day and the next day you’re expected to know it and be able to perform it. Gather as much experience and knowledge as you can now while you’re in school because, it will help you a great deal in the long run.”

Another one of our outstanding fire science seniors, Andrew Soccodato was recently offered a firefighter position with the Charlottesville Fire Department in Virginia. Sworn in on August 22^nd, Andrew expressed his excitement about becoming a Charlottesville firefighter saying that, “I applied to many fire departments and was excited to be hired by Charlottesville because I believe very strongly in their department’s mission and ideals. I feel that (the) Charlottesville (Fire Department) will be an excellent fit for me; it has an excellent reputation as a well run and progressive department.” The Charlottesville Fire Department is comprised of 86 fire personnel in three fire stations which staff four engine companies and two ladder companies. It is the only independent municipal fire department in the county.

Andrew too, appreciates the value of higher education and understands the important role it played in his pursuit of earning a career firefighter position. Soccodato attributes much of his success to his education. As he stated, “The fire science program prepared me for my professional future.” Principle to his success in the hiring process was his learned ability to communicate and interview well. Emphasis on the development of oral communication skills through the student centered approach to learning in fire science classes improved his speaking abilities and confidence. Andrew stated, “That the Problems in Fire Engineering course was especially helpful: it gave me the self confidence I needed to prepare my thoughts and then communicate them clearly and with assuredness during each interview. Quite often I was interviewed by a panel of individuals, which was similar to the questioning after my senior research presentation in the Problems in Fire Engineering class”. Because it’s no longer possible for Andrew to commute to NJCU, he plans to complete his fire science degree online. His advice to his fellow students is, “To know yourself; be confident especially when interviewing, and even if you don’t get the job, do not get discouraged; just keep your head up, move forward and apply, apply, apply”. With an attitude like that, it’s no wonder that Andrew is such a success.

Alexander Hamburger a 2008 fire science graduate was offered a position as firefighter with the Prince George’s County Fire Department in Maryland. After taking the entry level firefighter exam in July 2010, Alexander was rewarded with the offer of hire on April 19^th, 2011.

Hamburger attended New Jersey City University, and selected fire science as his major course of study in 2006. He stated that he wished to attend NJCU because of the “outstanding reputation of the Fire Science Program.” He further stated that he felt that a fire science education at NJCU would provide him with the best foundation to achieve his career goal of becoming an exceptional fire officer.

After graduating, Alex became the Fire Inspector and Investigator for New Jersey’s Princeton Borough. In speaking with Alex, he stated how his education at NJCU prepared him for the positions of Fire Inspector and Investigator. In his own words, “My fire science education not only prepared me for firefighting, but for conducting formal fire inspections and commanding other emergency operations. I enjoyed and continually use what I learned from Prof. Healey’s Fire Investigation and Arson course. I also enjoyed Prof. Malley’s biology classes!”

Alex began his formal training at the Prince George’s County Fire Academy on May 23^rd. His date of graduation is scheduled for late September 2011. After graduating, he is looking forward to being assigned to one of the busiest fire houses in Prince George’s County.