The graduates of the Maui Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau’s fifth recruit class are Alex King (from left), Ginger Prados, Haley Kalama, Leyla Anderson, Liane Mickey, Ozzie Clarke, Anthony Cappadona and Tristan Kasprzycki. MFD photo

The Maui News

Eight ocean safety officer recruits will be assigned to lifeguarded beaches around Maui County after completing a 12-week training program.

The Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, Ocean Safety Bureau celebrated the graduation of its fifth recruit class at a luncheon ceremony at Fuego’s in Kahului on Friday.

Led by Ocean Safety Training Captain Zach Edlao and Lt. Jon Kaneshina, the recruit training program is designed to train and evaluate the recruits on the skills needed to serve as an ocean safety officer, according to a MFD news release.

The graduating recruits are Liane Mickey, Haley Kalama, Leyla Anderson, Ginger Prados, Anthony Cappadona, Tristan Kasprzycki, Ozzie Clarke and Alex King.

Recruits received their certificate of completion from Assistant Fire Chief Hanalei Lindo and Ocean Safety Operations Manager Cary Kayama.

Kasprzycki earned three of the four recruit honors — the Academics Award, which is for the recruit with the highest scholastic average on all written course exams; the Athletic Award, which is for demonstrating high athletic and functional skills assessments; and Most Outstanding, which is selected by recruit training officers for the recruit that excelled in every phase of training, demonstrated outstanding leadership and an exceptional attitude and led the class in physical, academic and functional performance.

Mickey earned the Surf 50 Award, which honors the true passion and ocean safety spirit of late Ocean Safety Officer Randy Hillen. The award is presented to the recruit who displayed a high moral character and exceptional attitude, and whose conduct expresses respect and heart towards others and toward the profession.