GOSHEN, Ind. — Tony Clawson wasn’t sure where high school would take him. But after walking into the first day of Goshen’s RedHawk Fire Academy, everything changed.
“It straightened my life out and gave me a clear path,” he said. “It gave me a great future with a bunch of great guys on the fire department.”
Clawson is one of six high school students who completed the inaugural year of the RedHawk University Fire & EMS Pathway Program. The new training initiative is already reshaping how the city prepares the next generation of firefighters and EMTs.
The City of Goshen and Goshen Community Schools launched the program in 2024 after a conversation between Mayor Gina Leichty and Fire Chief Anthony Powell. That exchange sparked a bold vision. They set out to give students hands-on training and a path to certification and careers in emergency services.
Inside the RedHawk Fire Academy Experience
GFD Division Chief of Instruction Travis Peak adapted his advanced fire training curriculum into a two-year program now taught at the Chandler Career and Technical Center. The facility includes a department-built training tower, mock living quarters, and classroom space that replicates real-life scenarios.
Students in the program learn fire behavior, ladder operations, hose handling, EMS basics, and incident command. They also develop teamwork, leadership, and communication under pressure — core skills in any emergency response. In addition to their classroom work, students train at the Danny Sink Training Center. There they run live drills, fight real fires and gain experience with real firefighting equipment and conditions.
“It’s been humbling, exciting and incredibly fulfilling,” Peak said. “Watching these students grow from zero experience into leaders has been the most rewarding part.”
The program, which will double in size this fall, helps students build technical skills along with confidence and character.
Real Impact, Real Futures
Tyler Barkey, another student in the program, said learning communication and responsibility reshaped how he sees himself and others.
“A lot of it is people can’t hear each other and they get frustrated with each other and yelling at each other,” Barkey recalled. “Not everybody gets that as quick as you do. You have to slow it down for others. I just wasn’t used to that and Chief Peak helped me grow into that part of the class.
“He’s definitely a great instructor and has helped me grow as a person. I definitely became a lot more caring for other people because of him.”
These experiences reflect the mission behind the program’s creation. It provides hands-on learning for students who are looking to excel outside traditional classrooms.
“It still brings a tear to my eyes because that is exactly what we wanted this program to be,” Chief Powell said of the impact it’s had out of the gate. “This is where they’re going to thrive.”
Goshen Community Schools played a central role in the program’s development and success. Superintendent Jim DuBois and his team supported its integration into student schedules.
To apply for the 2025 class, interested students should contact their Goshen High School counselor or reach out directly to the Chandler Career and Technical Center for application details.
Several of this year’s RedHawk Fire Academy students will graduate during Goshen High School’s commencement ceremony, set for Sunday, June 8 at 6 p.m. at Foreman Field. Those completing the first year are Barkey, Clawson, Jose Soto Zuniga, Karter Marcum, Malacki Lambuth and Stephen Yowell.
“I feel like learning these skill has improved my life,” Barkey said. “I definitely recommend it for anybody else.”