Press Release

Metropolitan Education District 760 Hillsdale Ave San Jose, CA 95136 June 25, 2008

Contact: Michelle Alaimo Communication Specialist (408) 723-6464 malaimo@metroed.net

Four CCOC Fire Science/EMT Graduates Hired to work Morgan Hill Fire

Just two weeks out of high school, Cal Fire hired four Central County Occupational Center (CCOC) graduates to assist with the Morgan Hill/Watsonville area fire and immediately put them to work.

The CCOC graduates: Daniel Stoch (Branham HS) and Travis Paulin (Evergreen Valley HS), completed CCOC's Fire Science class in June while, Gustavo Gonzalez (Santa Teresa/Phoenix HS) and Alex Ruiz (Independence High School), completed CCOC's pre Emergency Medical Technician (EMT course). Daniel Gonzalez (Gilroy High School), a Fire Explorer with the San Jose Fire Department was also hired by Cal-Fire and is enrolled in CCOC's Fire Science/First Responder class for the fall.

Instructor Phil Gonzalez said the group was called as additional resource to the fire by South Santa Clara County Cal-Fire Ranger Unit Fire Chief Bill Murdock. They will perform mop-up operations in the already burned areas. The call was made Tuesday morning, and by noon, CCOC's newest graduates were off to work! Team leader, Daniel Stoch said "I'm ready!"

These graduates are the first from CCOC's Fire Science/EMT to be employed in their field! This was the first year that CCOC offered the Fire Science/EMT program.

CCOC's Fire Science/EMT classes are taught by San Jose Fire Captain (station 16) Oscar Tovar and Retired Fire Inspector Phil Gonzalez and the classes are open to high school juniors and seniors from six high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Campbell Union High School District, East Side Union High School District, San Jose Unified School District, Milpitas Unified School District, and the Santa Clara Unified School District.

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MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult occupational, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 50,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.