Haz-mat grads going to Gulf to fight oil spill
VIDEO - A small group of students at Jacksonville's Florida State College are about to put their studies to use in the Gulf of Mexico...
A small group of students at Jacksonville’s Florida State College are about to put their studies to use in the Gulf of Mexico.
The BP oil rig explosion has led to an oil slick which workers have been unable to contain.
Cecil Becks and his classmates are part of the Brownfields job training program, which is partly funded by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and trains students in hazardous materials clean-up.
Now, a company cleaning up in the Gulf has contacted FSCJ asking for qualified graduates of the program.
WATCH VIDEO OF STUDENTS HELPING OUT IN THE GULF
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“Yes, I plan on going as soon as I can get everything done here,” said Becks.
Instructor Dave Young said when the class completes the course in two weeks, students will be eligible to apply for Gulf cleanup jobs.
“I’ve seen it throw a little extra motivation to the students. We were contacted by a company, gave them some names and two students from our January, February class have been hired,” says Young.
The Brownfields program was designed to help on cleanup projects at abandoned industrial and commercial sites in cities, but right now the Gulf is taking priority.
“The oil spill made everything more available and worth going through the classes…I’m interested in preserving the environment so my grandkids can live the same way I live,” said student Jarrod Allen.
