A new club at Hempfield Area High School could help bridge the gap between a lack of volunteer firefighters and a younger workforce.
The Public Services Club is headed by biology teacher, volunteer firefighter and paramedic Justin Heddinger. The organization will introduce students to careers like volunteer firefighting, police work, emergency management, EMS and 911 dispatchers.
“It kind of was a solution of why don’t we start this club … to help gear (students) toward the goals they want, and this way they can learn if they like it or don’t like it,” Heddinger said, adding that the club will give students real life experiences to help make a decision about specific careers.
Proposed by Hempfield resident Scott Graham and approved unanimously by the school board Monday, the club is set to start this school year.