The Maui County Fire Department honored 21 new firefighters who graduated from the department’s training program to become the 41st Firefighters Recruit Class. Photo courtesy Maui Fire Department

The Maui Fire Department has sworn in 21 firefighters with the graduation of its 41st Firefighter Recruit Class.

The graduation ceremony on Oct. 3 followed a 27-week recruit training program designed to educate, train and evaluate fire recruits on the many skills necessary to serve as a firefighter.

Graduating recruits were presented with the following awards recognizing those who finished at the top of their class:

• Academics award: Kai Hasegawa. The award is presented to the recruit with the highest scholastic average on all written course examinations administered throughout the training program.

• Functional skills: Michael Douglas. The award is presented to the recruit who demonstrated the highest competency in functional skills assessments throughout the training program.

• Firefighter Spirit, Ho’ulu Award: Dion Valdez. Named in honor of the late Capt. Charles Iwata, the award is presented to the recruit who displays a high moral character and exceptional attitude and whose conduct expresses respect and heart towards others and the firefighting profession.

• Most Outstanding Overall: Beau Ramos. Selected by recruit training officers, the award is presented to the recruit that excelled in every phase of recruit training, demonstrated outstanding leadership ability and projected an exceptional attitude.

– Outstanding Team: Kupa’a Luat-Hueu and Jacob Julian. The award is presented to the two-person team who demonstrated the ability to work through hands-on drills expediently and efficiently.

Other members of the 41st Recruit Class include Casey Abe, Arjay Campo, Steven Cosma, Ryan Dalut, Angel Diaz, James Fenton, Pono Freitas, Keegan Gregg, Finn McAfee, Cameron McElroy, Rico Montoya, Jason Pierson, Kainalu Rundle, Kyle Sparks, and Garret Weishaar.