Just one year after graduating from Garland High School, Micah Wesberry landed his dream job. The alumnus was recently hired to the city of Garland Fire Department, all thanks to a grant he received his senior year.
“Firefighting was something that I wanted to pursue,” he said. “Having the ability to have a full-ride to go through an academy and be able to obtain my certificates was very valuable for the future, which is why I applied for the scholarship.”
The Garland Fire Academy scholarship offers 16-18 weeks of classes and training to one GISD student per year. The grant was first offered in the 2012-13 school year as a way to spike interest in the public service field.
“The scholarship was started to promote careers in the fire service,” said Garland Fire Department recruiter Kristi Shepherd. “We wanted to give a GISD student the ability to receive their firefighter certification and training without having to pay for it themselves.”
Grant applications are available through campus counselors, who then select just one submission to send to the Fire Department. Grades, community involvement, recommendation letters and a desire for a fire service career are all weighed when determining the scholarship’s sole beneficiary.
“It was awesome to learn that I got the scholarship,” Wesberry said. “The only way I can describe it is like when you watch NFL draft day and you see someone get the phone call. I felt like I had just been drafted. It was amazing.”
Although he was guaranteed admission to the academy regardless of his performance on the entrance exam, oral board interview and physical, his determination and talent secured his seat in the training school.
“The deal was that you took the entrance exam, and if you did not do well enough, you still went through the application process—but not for hiring,” he explained. “I scored high enough to be able to move on and continue through the stages and eventually ended up hired.”
But Wesberry’s career did not just fall into his lap. The 19-year-old made an effort to stay fit and learn as much as he could in order to earn the uniform.
“The hunger for knowledge in how he could better prepare for the process was unbelievable,” Shepherd commented. “He was very mature, very determined, knew exactly what he wanted and was just ecstatic because he was given this opportunity.”
And the opportunity could have not come at a better moment, as the GFD was hiring for the first time in three years. Wesberry was one of 300 people who tested, and one of 21 who were hired.
“When I found out I got the conditional offer of employment, I was excited and could not believe it,” he said. “Now I am getting paid during the academy, and its whole point is to get your certification.”
Because he was hired before attending the academy, Wesberry did not even have to use the gifted funds—something Shepherd considers a true success story.
“He is just an awesome kid and very deserving of this. I have just been wowed,” she said. “He has a very long and successful career ahead of him. I hope that Micah will be a frontrunner in the department. He has the ability to promote every two years, and I look forward to that happening.”
Wesberry is currently undergoing training to receive both state firefighting and basic emergency medical technician certifications. For more information about the scholarship, visit the Guidance and Counseling Department website.