San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated $1.8 million to Crafton Hills College’s (CHC) Fire Academy, the largest gift ever received by the CHC Foundation, to help the college achieve its mission of training a highly-qualified and diverse pool of recruits to serve the local area.
The donation comes at a time when updated industry standards have increased program costs to a point where cadets are expected to pay more out-of-pocket to complete the 18-week course.
“I have never seen in my entire time at Crafton a grant this large for a program like ours,” said Academy Chief Mike Alder. “It is a tremendous shot in the arm for the Academy and the cadets.”
Preparing the next generation of public safety servants is one of CHC’s critical priorities due to a severe regional shortage of trained professionals in the community. CHC has identified the high-cost students must bear to qualify for positions in emergency medical services (EMS) and firefighting as one of the reasons for this shortage. Each year, cadets struggle to meet the out-of-pocket costs for uniforms, equipment, supplies, testing, licensing, and certifications. CHC aims to recruit a diverse cadet pool for its fire science and paramedic programs. Still, low-income students often cannot afford the cost of participation, certification, and licensure.
To help mitigate this need, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has promised $1.8 million to the CHC Fire Academy, helping students with financial barriers access training at CHC’s Fire Academy. Their support will help CHC recruit a more diverse group of recruits into these programs and benefit local communities by providing the trained personnel needed to fill open positions.
“It has been an honor to partner with Crafton Hills on both financial support and recruitment,” said San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Vice-Chairman Johnny Hernandez Jr. “Every person should be able to follow their dreams regardless of their financial situation. The Tribe is excited to hear this may close the gap between diverse communities and access to following their dreams in firefighting.”
“One of the greatest assets we have as a college is the support of our community and partnerships with extraordinary organizations, such as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians,” said Crafton Hills College President Dr. Kevin Horan. “We are humbled by their generosity and shared interest in building a talented and diverse first responder workforce.”
“We are grateful to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their generous support of our local students,” said San Bernardino Community College District Chancellor Diana Rodriguez. “The Crafton Hills College Fire Academy opens doors to good-paying jobs for our graduates. This gift will help build a diverse workforce of firefighters who will combat California’s wildfires and keep our communities safe.”
Crafton’s Fire Academy is one of the premier fire academies in the Southern California region and is designed to meet requirements for Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications. Offered twice a year – once in the fall and again in the spring – the program tests cadets on leadership, communication, physical fitness, and what to expect in the field of fire service through hands-on training. About 30 cadets participate in the program each term.
College officials applied for the grant in December 2021 with support from the CHC Foundation, a nonprofit that looks to advance the educational, career, and personal successes of Roadrunners through engagement and learning.
Alder said San Manuel’s gift will support the academy’s efforts over the next five years.
“This grant opens up doors for those who are currently at a financial disadvantage to go through the program,” Alder said. “It has always been our goal to increase diversity not just in our program, but the service industry as a whole.”
“I was getting really concerned about the program because costs were going up. I kept asking myself, ‘What are we going to do? How are going to fix this?’ and then San Manuel comes to the rescue. I feel much better about the program’s future now and I couldn’t be happier.”
To learn more about the Fire Academy or to apply, go to www.craftonhills.edu/fireacademy.