Graduates from College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Fire Service Technology [2] Class 7 walked across the Nampa Civic Center stage on Dec. 10, taking the Firefighter Code of Ethics oath to mark the completion of their training. 

This year’s ceremony recognized 19 graduates, who earned their Basic Technical Certificate, and one student who completed an Associate of Arts degree, highlighting the continued growth and success of CWI’s Fire Service Technology program. 

The ceremony kicked off with Director of Fire Service Technology, Darrin Raskopf, welcoming graduates’ family members, friends, and special guests. Graduates and instructors marched into the ceremony carrying flags and leading attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Raskopf then introduced Provost Denise Aberle-Cannata, who delivered remarks on behalf of CWI administration. She acknowledged the graduates’ dedication throughout their rigorous training and shared her excitement for the impact they will make as they enter the fire service. 

“The fact that you’ve made it this far, there is nothing that is going to stop you from moving forward,” Aberle-Cannata said. 

Raskopf followed with his own reflections on Class 7. He praised the group’s unity, work ethic, and resilience, noting the strong support system of families, instructors, and community partners who contributed to the class’s success. 

“You are a great class,” Raskopf said. “You came together early. You bonded as a team, you worked as a team. You helped each other when there were struggles, and you pushed each other to be better. Usually that takes weeks — but you all were able to achieve that sooner than we expected.” 

Two students were unable to attend the ceremony because they had already been hired by Twin Falls Fire Department and were completing onboarding and new-hire training. Raskopf also noted several other graduates in Class 7 have already received offers of employment at other stations as they prepare to enter the fire service. 

The ceremony’s keynote address was delivered by Chief Matt Anderson of Middleton–Star Fire Protection District. Anderson shared his own reflections on going through the academy, recognized the graduates’ hard work, and offered guidance as they transition into the fire service. 

“From this moment on, every second of your life must be based on selfless service to something greater than yourself,” Anderson said. “There are no days off from that. There are no breaks and there's no moments where you can switch it off. From this moment forward, it's your calling. When you take this oath and you wear a badge, you stand for something bigger than you.” 

The ceremony also recognized additional student honors, including Kemper Hessing, who received the Most Physically Improved Award. 

Graduate Christian Tiner was honored with the Fall 2025 Top Academic Award. Tiner spoke about how the class grew over 16 intense weeks — starting as nervous recruits and finishing as a strong, disciplined team. He reflected on the challenges they overcame together, the trust they built, and the high standards they learned to uphold. He thanked instructors, families, and the Treasure Valley fire community for their support and shared his pride in his classmates as they move forward in their fire careers. 

“We did this together,” Tiner said. “We pushed each other to be better, we held each other accountable, and we built friendships and trust that don’t end today. While we may be heading in different directions, we share the same purpose: to serve, to protect, and to continue growing into the firefighters we want to become.” 

Watch the 2025 Fire Service Technology Graduation Ceremony [3]