Colgate Student Program

In the early 1980s, the Hamilton Fire Department welcomed its first Colgate University student. Until this point, the large population of young and motivated students had been untapped, yet a handful of ambitious students saw an opportunity to give back to their new community in Hamilton. A decade later, the first “class” of student firefighters had been accepted into the fire department, and these students laid the foundation for the current program.

Today, the Hamilton Fire Department accepts 4-6 new student members each September. Many of these students have little to no emergency service experience, but by the end of their first year, each student is a fully trained interior firefighter. During their tenure at Colgate, many students obtain their NYS EMT-B certification and take additional fire/rescue courses.

Nearly every student who graduates from Colgate after serving on the Hamilton Fire Department believes that their experience as a firefighter was invaluable. Between the memories made with friends, the experience gained through training, and the satisfaction found in performing community service, there are several reasons why our alumni loved their time on the fire department. These alumni’s connection to Hamilton and the fire service supports our robust alumni network.