Letter: Measure F will provide new pathways

I’ve lived in South Lake Tahoe for 22 years, and I’m the Dean of Career & Technical Education and Instruction at Lake Tahoe Community College. I'd like to share a few stories about students I’ve known through my work at LTCC, and how Measure F will provide new pathways to create many more great stories like these – stories about young people whose lives were changed because of the programs and opportunities available through our local community college.

First there’s Marco, an Iraq War veteran who returned to the U.S. in 2006 after two tours of duty. He heard about the then-newly developed Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy at LTCC from a friend and decided to give it a shot. Marco quickly emerged as a leader known for instilling confidence and camaraderie in his classmates. He graduated in the very first class of the Fire Academy in June 2007. The very next day, the Angora Fire broke out. Marco was among the volunteers who provided assistance to our community. He went on to attend paramedic school and is now employed as a full-time firefighter in our community.

Meet Jason. Born and raised in our community, he graduated from South Tahoe High School in 2009. He enrolled in the Fire Academy and EMT program at LTCC and followed his dream of becoming a firefighter. A year later, he proudly walked across the Duke Theatre stage with his certificate in hand. Jason immediately began his required year of volunteer firefighting service while commuting to paramedic school in Sacramento. In 2013, he became a full-time firefighter at the age of 23.

Finally, there’s Amanda. She earned a Bachelor's degree elsewhere and moved to South Lake Tahoe with her husband and two children in 2010. Never quite satisfied with the career paths associated with her college degree, she made a bold decision to enroll in the Fire Academy and try something new. She completed the program and just returned from the King Fire, where she worked side-by-side with many of her fellow LTCC Fire Academy graduates. Her passion for fire service continues to grow as she completes her volunteer hours toward the goal of achieving her Firefighter I certification.

The names of these students are changed to ensure their privacy, but the details are real. These are just three in a sea of stories behind the men and women who have endured the physical and academic rigors of the Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy at LTCC. Other successful public safety students who attended LTCC include Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Fire Chief Ben Sharit (Fire Science), retired Lake Valley Fire Protection District Fire Chief Jeff Michael (Fire Science), and retired El Dorado Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Les Lovell (Criminal Justice). These local public safety leaders began their educational journeys at LTCC, and they continue their close association with the college to this day.

I sincerely believe that Measure F represents an opportunity to transform higher education in our community and build on the already strong foundation established by programs such as the Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy. Measure F will make it possible to develop a new Public Safety Training Center, providing regional fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical responders with a state-of-the art training and incident command facility that’s close by and world class. Not only will our local students benefit from this center, but our community will be able to attract public safety personnel from across the state and beyond who are seeking access to certified courses hosted on our beautiful college campus.

A vote for Measure F is a vote for our community’s FUTURE. Just ask the more than 200 graduates of the Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy at LTCC.

Dr. Virginia Boyer
LTCC