On Thursday, the Worcester Fire Department graduated 22 recruits.

The ceremony featured remarks from Fire Chief Michael Lavoie, Mayor Joseph Petty, City Manager Ed Augustus Jr., District Chief Anthony Grokaitis, Local 1009 President Michael Papagni and At-Large City Councilor Kathleen Toomey. After the remarks, the recruits were sworn-in and were presented with their diplomas and badges. 

"It took a lot longer than any of us thought. Obviously we thought we'd be done a couple months ago, but a couple months late, no big deal, we are just excited to get on the trucks," said graduate John Paul Sriberg.

The class was supposed to graduate in late June, but after a recruit tested positive for the coronavirus, they had to do what firefighters are known for: adapting in an unexpected situation. 

"It was frustrating because I knew it was going to put the class behind, but we had to do what we had to do," said Chief Lavoie.

Everyone had to quarantine and they were confined to several weeks of remote learning. This class faced the most unique challenges any Worcester Firefighter Recruit Class has ever faced. When they returned from remote learning they had to battle high temperatures in the heat of the summer, but they overcame every obstacle to make it to graduation. 

"They definitely got put through the ringer," said Lavoie. "They endured and they survived and they are going to be good firefighters."

Brielle Hutchings graduated as the only female in the class and said she has been training for this day for three years.

"You wait for this moment for so long and it comes then it goes away and you don't know if its going to start back up again. There were days where we didn't know if we were going to be able to come back this year so dealing with the uncertainty was difficult at times," said Hutchings. "You just stay positive and stay in shape and then we were able to start right back up." 

The recruits took the challenges from the coronavirus crisis and used it to become the best firefighters they could be.

"It sounds like it was good training before we get to the field," Sriberg said.

Along with Sriberg and Hutchings, the other recruit class members were: Wesley Allain, Matthew Badjo, Thomas Benoit, Modesto Berrios, Theodosios Biliourious, Paul Blanchard Jr., Henry Burgos, Samuel Dahrooge, Sean Davis, Carlos Diaz, Brian Foley, Ryan Hamilton, Michael Moossa, Carlos Moro, Patrick O'Malley, James Sharry, Frank Stances, John Stephen and Anthony Weislander.

During the graduation ceremony, social distancing guidelines were in place, masks and face coverings were worn and sanitizer was also present in order to keep everyone who attended safe.