In a heartwarming display of collegiate and community support, the Columbus Fire Department recently made a generous donation of a fire truck to Columbus Technical College (CTC). CTC will be adding the recent gift to the fleet of vehicles that students will use to enhance their exploration of diesel automobiles. 

The official delivery happened on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the Hartline Building on CTC’s campus. Representatives from the local fire department and members of the College leadership team gathered to commemorate this collaborative effort. In response to the donation, David Kuipers, CTC Vice President of Academic Affairs stated, “One of the biggest costs of training is always getting realistic equipment for students to work on. It’s more affordable to use a small trainer in the lab, but for them to work on something from the real world gives them real experience.”    

John Shull, Columbus Fire and EMS Division Chief expressed, “One of the issues is that we don’t have enough diesel mechanics, so if we can support the program here at Columbus Technical College maybe it’s a step in the right direction.” The donation of this gently used fire truck will ensure that CTC students have access to real-world equipment as they prepare for future careers servicing diesel vehicles. As a former graduate of the CTC EMS program, Chief Shull was proud to join his colleagues in helping to make this experiential learning opportunity possible for current students.  

The impact of this generous donation will resonate for years to come, showcasing what is possible when community partnerships forge alliances in support of educational goals. 

Thanks to our local news partners at WRBL for continuing coverage. View the full stories at The gift that keeps on giving: Columbus Fire and EMS donates a firetruck to Columbus Technical College (wrbl.com)