For some Lake Superior State University (LSSU) graduates, there is no place like home. But Sault Ste Marie, Mich. has just become home to a few more.
The place where I-75 begins is truly a starting point for Fire Science Bachelor of Science Degree holder Evan Melville, City of Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department’s newest intern. Melville graduated with the highest honor of Summa Cum Laude. He will intern with the department through July to accumulate the hours needed for certification.
Melville is presently a certified firefighter. He moved to the Sault from Minnesota.
“I found out about LSSU through other people, and heard it had a great fire science program,” he said. “I fell in love with a small community school that has a big university feel. It is a great place to get an education. The faculty is amazing.”
Emergency Medicine Assistant Professor Bryan Fuller returned Melville's compliment.
“We are always happy to see students stay here to complete their internships,” the professor said.
Sault Ste. Marie Fire Chief Ed Miller was also very pleased, to say the least. He reintroduced yet another graduate of the fire science program at Lake State, Connor Colletti-Parr of Eaton Rapids, Mich.
Colletti-Parr started at the department on August 15, 2022 with basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and fire certification. The new recruit worked as a full time firefighter, while taking 16 semester credit hours at Lake State.
“It’s been fun,” Colletti-Parr said about his time in the Sault, hunting and fishing. “I came up here for college. It's one of the only colleges that offers a bachelor degree in fire and Emergency Response Services (EMS).”
Working at the fire department, around “like-minded” brothers and sisters in uniform, has only reaffirmed to Colletti-Parr the importance of an LSSU foundation.
“You just learn something new and become better everyday,” Colletti-Parr said. “You never know what is going to happen and what the day is going to bring.”
Miller presently has a full fire department of 18 employees, which comes out to six crew members per shift.
“Lake State has been a great funnel to the department for employees,” Miller said. “It has been a great resource, and given us the opportunity to get to know the students.”
Miller is in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) to add six more full time staff members.
Sault Ste. Marie Police Department Police Chief Wesley Bierling also congratulated four Sault PD auxiliary officers on their Lake Superior State University graduation today.
“Congratulations,” Bierling said to graduates Madison Bishop, Jacob Davis, Benjamin Wise, and Cody Simmons. “We are very proud of you.”
