Fifteen students graduated through inaugural STEP program created by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and Hillsborough County Affordable Housing
Javier Del Rosario was initially going to join the police academy, until he met and spoke to a member of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue at the gym.
The firefighter told him about the inaugural Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Specialized Training for Emergency Professionals (STEP) program, where students can graduate with both Emergency Medical Training (EMT) and fire academy training.
After Del Rosario learned more about STEP, he applied for the program through Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and Aparicio-Levy Technical College. Being a firefighter was his original dream, and he jumped at the opportunity because the STEP program also included free tuition and a wage.
"The opportunity was great," said Del Rosario, 20, of Apollo Beach. "I'm really blessed. When I found out about (the STEP program), I was really excited.
On Aug. 1, Del Rosario graduated from the fire academy with 25 other students. Of the 26 graduates, 15 of them were in the STEP program.
"It has truly changed my life," said Amari Jackson, who also graduated along with Del Rosario, and attended the EMT and fire academy through STEP. "I was able to provide for my family and still pursue a career."
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue created the STEP program this year to offer an opportunity for qualified candidates to pursue a career in firefighting. Hillsborough County Affordable Housing provided the funding for the STEP program through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). A percentage of the grant can be used for public service, allowing Hillsborough County Fire Rescue to pay tuition and a wage for each of the students enrolled in the STEP program.
More than 140 residents applied for the program. The students were selected through a rigorous application process that included writing an essay, submitting references, and participating in interviews.
In January 2025, the students began studying in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) field, learning about CPR, pre-hospital emergency medicine, and assessing patients. After completing the EMT training, the students continued their fire academy training at the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Fire Academy, 9450 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa, FL, 33619.
The training, which was administered by Aparicio-Levy Technical College and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, included firefighting safety, firefighting techniques, extrication, ladder drills, and search and rescue exercises.
By graduating from the fire academy, the students also met the 492-hour requirement to graduate from the Aparicio-Levy Technical College Fire Academy, resulting in them being dual certified in firefighting and EMT upon graduation. The students have already passed the state firefighter examination, and they can now apply to become a firefighter at any fire department in the state.
The recent fire academy graduation was held at Armwood High School, 12000 U.S. Hwy. 92, Seffner, FL 33584. Friends, families, and firefighters gathered to support and cheer for the future firefighters.
Jackson, 21, of Gibsonton, worked for five years at a Chick-Fil-A in Riverview, and she became a team leader at the restaurant. But when her pastor told her about the STEP program through Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, she knew she had to pursue the opportunity. Her mother had been a firefighter and her father is a police major in Georgia. Firefighting allows Jackson to connect with her passion: to give back to the community.
"It feels like a calling," Jackson said. "You try to run from it, but it continues to pursue you. I want to be more hands on and see the change."
For Tarean Austin, graduating from the academy serves as an opportunity to embark on a solid career. He has an eight-year-old son, and he knows there's no other career that can impress a child.
"It is one of the best role models you can be, and it is a great job," said 33-year-old Austin, who attended the fire academy through the STEP program.
Hillsborough County plans to continue funding the STEP program through 2026. Applications will be accepted starting in October. Visit HCFL.Gov/PublicSafety.